ACADEMY: Lack-lustre Liverpool slip to Rams defeat

Apr 8 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

A SECOND-HALF penalty condemned Liverpool under-18s to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Derby County in their final home match of the season at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.

It was the first match for Hugh McAuley’s side since their return from Dubai and has plenty of possession, but were generally lack-lustre and lost.

Astrit Adjarevic had to clear off the Liverpool goal-line in the first half, but Liverpool had two glorious chances to take the lead. Sean Highdale, who was involved in a car accident on Sunday night and is in Whiston hospital, was clean through on goal but failed to take his chance.

The only goal of the match came on 65 minutes from the spot after Michael Scott brought down a Derby striker by the byline.

Liverpool came close to an equaliser when defender Joe Kennedy saw an effort scrambled off the line. But generally Liverpool never hurt the visitors getting back into the match after a lacklustre performance.

Coach McAuley said: “The second half performance was very poor, although the first half we played well enough and created a couple of good chances, but we couldn’t take them. In a way we didn’t want the half-time whistle to come. The second half was a real anti-climax.

“We conceded a poor penalty kick, and I suppose if you don’t put your chances away, things like that can happen. In the second half it was poor and although we controlled much of the match and Derby defended we couldn’t break them down. We didn’t threaten as much as we should have. We were a bit short of ideas.”

Liverpool have just two matches left, both away. They face north west section winner Manchester City tomorrow afternoon, then travel to Leeds United this Saturday (kick-off 11am) and McAuley is hoping for a much-improved display from the defeat to Derby.

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Hansen; Scott, Irwin, Kennedy, Mackay-Steven (O’Connor 60); Amoo, Highdale, Adjarevic, Kacaniklic; Pourie (Kasami 65), Pepper. Subs: Oldfield, Roberts.