Norwich City Under-18s coach Greg Crane says he was pleased with his side's performance, as they recorded a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Goals from Ken Aboh, Dubem Eze, and Finley Welch made it two wins from two in the Under-18s Premier League Cup, having previously beaten their Leicester City counterparts at the start of September.
With the Canaries playing in the Southern section in the league, Crane says the opportunity to play a Northern-based side offered something different to usual outings.
"It was a different type of game. We don’t get to play Northern sides too often, so it was a different type of performance from the boys but we got off to a good start with an early penalty. It was a really competitive game. In the second half, we found those finishing touches which we were lacking in the first half. We went 3-0 up, and then probably took our foot off the pedal a little bit and allowed them to get a goal back.
“Blackburn is a tough place to go to, it always has been, especially with the type of players they produce. It was a long journey for the boys, but it was a really pleasing performance from them from start to finish."
The Premier League Cup gives the Under-18s an opportunity to experience football away from the regular league format, and Crane says he was pleased with how his players reacted.
"Every game, every competition, every weekend is an opportunity for the boys to improve. We’ve had some indifferent results, we’ve won some, we’ve drawn some, and we’ve lost some. But that’s perfect for development, it allows them to learn how to win and how to lose. The competition itself is very competitive. It’s at the right level for the boys."
Victories over Blackburn and Leicester have given the Under-18s a fantastic start in the competition, and they host Manchester City in the final group-stage game in November. Despite the pedigree of opposition, Crane backs his players to approach the game like any other.
“I’ve not played Man City as an Under-18s coach, and I don’t think we have as a club for a while. Obviously, they come with the pedigree of being a top academy and they’ve earned that right.
"One thing that I’ve told the boys, in terms of mentality to have, is that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against. We have to do what we do, and have to play the way we play, and that’s as individuals, as teams, and as units. It’s another good test, and it’s a competition format which always adds a little bit of spice for them. It’ll be really interesting to see how they handle that.”