Lewis: "It was just about keeping heads, keeping calm and getting the job done"

Stuart Lewis applauded the character of his side as our Under-18s had to show their nerve to edge out Grimsby Town in a thrilling FA Youth Cup classic on Monday.

Running out eventual 5-3 winners after extra-time at Blundell Park, Lewis' side took the lead through Luca Williams-Barnett but were pegged back less than 10 minutes later as Carlo Midwinter levelled the game.

A stunning long-range strike from Tynan Thompson and a close range finish from substitute Ellis Lehane gave us a healthy-looking two-goal lead, but a late fightback from the hosts saw them draw level in the dying seconds of stoppage time.

However, the boys responded perfectly to the late setback as Jun'ai Byfield's perfectly placed header saw us retake the lead in the first period of extra time before Ronny Moncur sealed victory with his 109th minute strike to set up a fifth round tie with Watford.

Reflecting on a challenging but ultimately fruitful night for his side, Stuart said: "I'm super proud of the effort, determination and the character of the team. I thought we showed what we're about today, as a group, as individuals and as a collective.

"It was a proper FA Youth Cup tie. I thought we showed our real quality at times, we showed spirit and, ultimately, we won the game. So that's a huge positive.

"I think for this group, it would be a really important map for their development and their learning. They probably haven't encountered an atmosphere like that - the hostility, and then also the conditions - which is what football is about.

"We showed massive respect for the opposition. I thought it was a really entertaining game and I loved our spirit that came through in the end. We're into the next round and loads to take from the evening."

A challenging evening saw our Under-18s have to cope with strong winds along with an intense atmosphere, experiences which Stuart believes have also helped our players who are currently out on loan: "I think we have two players that I've worked with with a lot over the years in Jamie Donley and George Abbott and the other Academy players that are all out on loan and and they will be encountering this every Saturday and Tuesday.

"We have high hopes for this group and we've got some real talent and good personalities in here. So I think it's a brilliant evening for that group and they can take loads of loads of learning moments from it. I thought we played really well at times and dealt with what they threw at us.

"I loved our spirit in in extra time and the two goals were excellent. I'm really pleased for the players and the staff. The message going into extra-time, having conceded like that right at the death and the hostility that they were experiencing from the stand, it was just about keeping heads, keeping calm and getting the job done."

"That was our big message. In any game in football, when you have that level of emotion, when you're nearly through and then (you concede those goals)... we told the lads, we're not out, we're still in the competition here, we've not lost.

"I thought the staff and the players really got together in that moment. We showed something in training about a 4x100 metre relay race and it was a really good analogy that we showed them because I said, 'this is not about if you go out first, second or third, it's ultimately that we're all part of a team. And those lads that didn't start, they've got to take it over the line for us, and they did!"

"There were players that played 120 minutes too, so there are so many different learnings for individuals and the collective tonight.

"It was about staying calm in those moments and then also celebrating it at the end in the dressing room. I think a few of the lads are out on their feet, but it's a great atmosphere in there and I'm really proud of their efforts."

Grimsby knocked out the 2023 winners of this competition in round three and dug in to haul themselves back level from a two-goal deficit, something Lewis was impressed by: "Obviously, I played in League One and Two for a lot of my career, so I definitely respect the opposition hugely.

"They deserve to be here and they deserved to beat West Ham, so I think we knew what we were coming up against. We had to show the right attitude and mindset towards the game and I think we did that, and they just didn't give in, they kept going.

"I thought our quality came through in the end but, like I said, I thought it was a brilliant cup tie, both sets of players gave everything and that's all you can ask for.

"But I'm really pleased and looking forward to hopefully another entertaining tie against Watford in the next round."

The second-half and extra-time saw three schoolboys on the pitch as part of a very young side. That group took us to victory, eventually seeing the game out with 10 men after Jun'ai Byfield limped off in the closing stages, impressing Stuart with their attitudes both before and during the game.

"I think sometimes you can say the game might look a certain way at times, but until you've actually experienced that and you're in the arena, you can't put that into into words," Our Under-18s Coach explained.

"We've had several of the Under-16s involved this season and I think four or five involved in the squad for this one, first-years who stepped up into a big game.

"I thought the attitudes of the collective, and especially Callum (Olusesi) and Malachi (Hardy), who were on the bench for the first team at Everton, travelled over on the morning of the game, showing brilliant attitude, and their mentalities were outstanding.

"There's so many different factors that we had to deal with. And I thought that the boys really grew stronger and they came together as a group. They showed unbelievable fight and spirit."

Another positive for the side was the return of Sam Archer, who overcame injury to start between the sticks for the first time since November: "He's a huge character for the group and it was his 18th birthday.

"I've worked with Sam for a number of years, so I know what he can bring to any group or any team, and I thought he really stood up in important moments tonight. His maturity and and his personality really drove the team through in the final 30 minutes.

"Throughout the game, he showed a real level of maturity as it was his first game for a long time, so it was a great evening for him, and I'm not sure he'll ever forget his 18th birthday!"

The main focus for Stuart's side now is being able to recover and prepare themselves for a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime, whilst some players were also involved in our Under-21s victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night: "I think that's probably one of the learnings for us. We've had some elite former players that have been in our Academy.and all of us as staff are always teaching about how to be elite and how to prepare elite.

"We've got brilliant facilities at the training centre and I think that this will also be a real learning moment for the players, because there were probably too many cramps at times.

"I thought that, although we did grow stronger as the game went on because of how we train, there's been a real big push now on the preparation towards Crystal Palace, which again will be a physical game on Saturday.

"But I'm really proud of their efforts. They gave me and the staff everything and it was a top Youth Cup game. Perfect."