SIMON RUSK has told of his pride in Albion’s development squad after a superb comeback last night.
A particularly youthful under-21 line-up came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 away to an experienced Oxford United side in the Checkatrade Trophy.
They then bagged a bonus point by winning a shoot-out 5-4, helped by Robert Sanchez’s save and five perfect spot-kicks.
James Tilley and Daniel Mandroiu came up with super finishes to put them on terms.
Development boss Rusk said: “It was an outstanding display. We found ourselves 2-0 down but I didn’t think it was the run of play.
“I thought it was a wonderful first goal (by Tilley) and we were possibly unlucky not to win the game.
“But I have to be delighted. We have got a young side out, a very young back four, and, as a team, it was a really impressive performance.”
Rusk said he kept faith after his side went two down.
He added: “I thought the goals we conceded were naive goals but that is why we are in this level of competition.
“That is what it is there for – for the development players to get punished for things like that so they can learn and grow from it.
“But the team reaction to stick to the task was a credit to players. I knew we would be all right with penalties – only because the lads spend hours at the end of training whacking penalties in against each other.”
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