Coventry City youngsters were outdone by visiting side Crewe Alexandra, as Farndon is left frustrated by defensive mistakes...
Coventry City’s U18s side were beat 3-1 at home to play-off hopefuls Crewe, as three first-half goals proved too bigger feat to overturn.
Farndon’s side were victim to a trio of early goals and were 3-0 down before the interval. A very technical display from the visitors had the Sky Blues on the back foot from the off and Crewe were extremely clinical in attack, securing a 3-0 lead before City could reply.
U18s coach, Jason Farndon said: “It’s something we need to address quickly, there were fundamental mistakes.
“Players are looking tired after a long season, but I don’t think that is an excuse. The players out on the pitch should defend better. We didn’t get going until the second-half.
“I think we have got to realise that when we aren’t playing well, we need to consolidate and address things at half-time. I think we looked at the problems at half-time time, rotated things and in the second-half we had enough chances to make something of the game.”
Substitute striker Dan Smith entered the action on the hour mark and pulled a goal back for City, but the young Sky Blues weren’t able to complete the comeback.
Fardon’s team have enjoyed a good season, making the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, where it took a penalty shoot out to separate Coventry’s U18s and eventual semi-finalists Arsenal.
The U18s coach has highlighted that the fixture build up has been tough on his side, but the young Coventry City players must remain disciplined in the latter stages of the season.
Farndon added: “Unfortunately we were wasteful in wide areas and I don’t think we threatened the goal enough.
“We looked to rotate the squad, we were down to 11 today with the addition of a couple of trialists. It was always going to be difficult, but work in the final third is something we need to improve on for next season.
“We’ve got four more games left of a long tiring season and I want to see better defending. Crewe are still in the hunt, they had a lot to play for.
“The FA Youth Cup, as good as it was for the boys to progress, is our downfall in terms of fixture congestion. The goals we conceded were poor, and something we’ll need to put right quickly.”