Everton Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines insists there are hundreds of positives to take from the youthful Blues’ 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup on Sunday.

The fourth-round fixture at Walton Hall Park observed Chelsea lowered to 10 guys after Kaiden Wilson’s first-half dismissal. Nevertheless, the site visitors managed to take the lead rapidly after.

More defensive following half-time, Chelsea have been put beneath stress through the Toffees for the duration of a lot of the 2nd period, then again the away crew doubled their advantage just after the hour mark.

Speaking to evertonfc.com after the game, Baines recognises a lack of ruthlessness price his aspect against a robust and scientific Chelsea outfit during a contest which was once tactically exceptional due to the fact of the early crimson card.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing – especially taking phase in in opposition to 10 men,” he acknowledged. “We knew the game would be a challenge, but with the sending off, it grew to become into a really specific challenge. We had been attempting to detect a way thru a extra reserved opposition, who have nevertheless sold notable pleasant on the pitch, and can be clinical and ruthless in transition.

“A sending off will usually alternate a game, however we comprehend Chelsea are one of the great agencies in the u . s . a . with some of the extremely good gamers in the country. They had to adapt and evolve which they did well, and likewise, we geared up for excessive stress and being pressed all over the pitch, and it ended up searching very different.

“I anticipate both groups adapted, and we viewed cosy on the ball, however lacked a slicing edge.

“I count on in the end, that’s what prevailed – them being medical in the closing third, and us now now not having that cutting edge. We didn’t manage to discover a way by means of a physique of gamers in a mid to low block and possibly didn’t have the super in the closing action that they showed.”

Last time out in the FA Youth Cup, Everton earned a 4-1 victory at Goodison Park towards Stockport County Under-18s, and following Sunday’s aggressive showing, Baines is aware of his promising squad will have benefitted from the time out furnished throughout each matches.

“There are typically positives when you’re in a enchancment setting,” he added. “Some of our lads won’t have performed in a venue Goodison or like [Walton Hall Park] before. Playing towards 10 guys as exact – for some of them it’ll be the first time they’ve gone via that.

“Every recreation appears recreation different, and what they can do now is every go lower back and replicate on their man or girl performances, as well as the collective experience. There are consistently positives and they’ll be masses we can focus on and show up to develop.”