Following the Owls Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup fourth round victory over Gillingham, coach Steven Haslam feels his players deserve all the credit.
Haslam told swfc.co.uk it was the perfect way to start the New Year on a positive note:
“We are delighted with the result – obviously to win 3-0 at home is a great return. It is very pleasing to progress into the next round.
“If I am being honest, performance-wise we could have played better and speaking to the lads in the dressing room, they are in agreement with that but we got the win and that was the main thing on the night.
“We played quite well, but we think there is more to come, and we can hopefully get better as we go forward through the season.
“The players really gave their all, and they weren’t going to come off that pitch second best. So, credit to them for that.”
Wednesday progressed beyond the competition’s third round for the first time since 2013, and Haslam revealed his delight at the academy’s success behind the scenes:
He said: “We are going about our business quietly and are pleased with the progress we have made.
“The Under-18s and one or two in the under-23 group, are the evidence of the work, the progress that we are making.”
Haslam concluded by outlining the tournament’s importance in adding to the players’ learning curve, saying:
“It is a prestigious tournament – a lot more fans come to watch than would normally be expected.
“So it is a whole different experience for the players, something that’s replicated at the first team level.
“With more attention on the game and the supporters, it adds a bit more expectancy and pressure on the players to go out and perform and it is one part of their development programme.”