Youth Cup helping to give academy players first team mindset - Wood

Sean Wood said that the experiences the Swindon Town under-18s can get in the FA Youth Cup are invaluable for preparing them for senior football.

Having reached the quarter-finals of the competition last season, Swindon reached the second round on Tuesday night as Ant McCormick, Miles Obodo, and Botan Ameen all struck in their 3-1 victory over Newport County.

Wood said that he believes matches like this when it is win at all costs are very useful for getting more academy players ready for senior involvement.

He said: “They need to be educated to win games of football and if you don’t win in this competition then you are out.

“Last year has maybe brought some optimism and some pressure with how this new intake of players approach this tournament but there is no given right you win any game of football at any level.

“We totally respected the opposition; we knew it was going to be a tough game, and I am really pleased for the lads that they got over the line into round two.

“We want as many of our under-18s as we can in the first team pathway group, we want more homegrown players receiving opportunities and challenges like tonight that prepare them to be in and around the first team.

“What we are about [is getting players those experiences], the manager [Ian Holloway] was here tonight, so he has had an early look at how the boys are developing.

“We go to Plymouth on Sunday and then it is back here for Spurs under-21s on Tuesday and it is down to the boys to work hard.

"To be anywhere near the first team squad should be an absolute privilege, you need to earn it, so hopefully some will be involved in that fixture.”

With 451 fans in attendance for the game, Wood said it was a clear sign that supporters are interested in their academy players and he was working hard to deliver them to the senior side.

He said: “I was pleasantly surprised by how many were here today and it shows that there is an interest in local, young talent coming through at this club.

“As a staff, we have to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make sure that our supporters can see our young players in our first team squad.

“Hopefully today puts a few faces to names and they can follow the boys on this journey and across the season.”