Bristol City Youth 4 Chelsea FC Youth 1

[EskWeston 696]

The Under 18s failed to build upon their first win of the season last weekend as they were made to pay for mistakes against an industrious Bristol City side. A goal down at the break, the deficit increased to three goals before substitute Frank Nouble pulled one back, only for the home side to restore the lead soon after.

There were three changes to the side that had beaten Reading, including Czech keeper Jan Sebek starting and after Ben Gordon and Marco Mitrovic had missed chances, it was a heavy touch from Sebek as he controlled a back pass that allowed Bristol City in for the opener.

That was around the half-hour mark and the second goal came soon after the interval when Billy-Joe King conceded a penalty. Although Sebek dived the right way, the spot-kick was in the corner and unsaveable.

Jacopo Sala (pictured) was part of a midfield three with Italian compatriot Fabio Borini and captain Daniel Philliskirk, moved forward to take the place of injured Conor Clifford, and shortly after the second goal, Sala swung in a good cross but Mitrovic missed another presentable chance.

On the hour, Bristol City worked the ball wide, crossed and although Sebek saved, the opponents' centre-forward was first to the rebound to make it 3-0.

Ten minutes later Chelsea finally found the net, another Sala cross bundled in by Frank Nouble who had come on for Jordan Tabor - but the revival was short-lived as the home side turned in the fourth after Chelsea couldn't prevent the Bristol centre-back from knocking down a corner.

'The first-half was scrappy,' youth team manager Paul Clement reports. 'The opposition pressed us very hard and we found it difficult to get our passing together.

'They weren't creating much but neither were we initially until we missed some chances. It looked like we were going in goalless at the break and it was disappointing to go behind to such a poor goal.

'The second half started really badly and 3-0 down, we had to change what we were doing but just when we had scored and thought we might get back it, we conceded from a set-piece.

'What was disappointing was our inability to reach our technical level when under intense pressure. Sometimes you learn more from these games than if you have played well and won.

'The result and the performance weren't good but if we learn lessons for the future then we can accept it.'

Chelsea Jan Sebek; Nikki Ahamed, Jack Saville, Billy-Joe King, Ben Gordon; Daniel Philliskirk ©, Josh McEachran, Fabio Borini; Jacopo Sala, Marco Mitrovic, Jordan Tabor (Frank Nouble).

Source: Chelsea FC

[Fulham Broadway 15,858]

To be fair when Junior opponents see Chelsea on the fixture list , they must think it's Christmas and raise their game accordingly.

[EskWeston 696]

To be fair when Junior opponents see Chelsea on the fixture list , they must think it's Christmas and raise their game accordingly.

Still, the youth have had a pretty poor start to the season, we have shipped plenty of goals. A lot of that i am sure is down to never having a proper centre back pairing all season, as i have mentioned previously. This time we had a left back pairing Saville in the centre.

Also to be fair, we do tend to play younger players in our team, whereas a lot of other teams will play all under 18's age group and even the allowed couple U19's which does make a difference.

Sala, McEachran and Mitrovic were all playing in the U16's pre season tournament in the summer.