‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

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‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

Leon McSweeney came away proud of the team following our Development Squad’s Premier League 2 Play-Off defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

2025-05-01T09:30+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

01 May, 2025

‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

Leon McSweeney came away proud of the team following our Development Squad’s Premier League 2 Play-Off defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

Sam Jones

2025-05-01T09:30+01:00

‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

Leon McSweeney came away proud of the team following our Development Squad’s Premier League 2 Play-Off defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

Sam Jones

2025-05-01T09:30+01:00

‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

Leon McSweeney came away proud of the team following our Development Squad’s Premier League 2 Play-Off defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

Sam Jones

2025-05-01T09:30+01:00

‘It Reflected Our Season’ - McSweeney On Play-Off Reverse

Leon McSweeney came away proud of the team following our Development Squad’s Premier League 2 Play-Off defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

Sam Jones

2025-05-01T09:30+01:00

Our Under-21s lost out 5-3 to Southampton after extra-time in Premier League 2
The Development Squad finished 10th in the regular season to reach the play-offs
Leon McSweeney praised the character shown to come from three goals behind late on
City’s coach also reflected on the season as a whole and plans for the future

Three goals down just after the hour mark at St. Mary’s Stadium, courtesy of strikes from Will Merry, Jay Robinson and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, a late showing from the young Foxes brought us back into contention.

Sammy Braybrooke, Henry Cartwright from the penalty spot, and Jake Evans all scored within five minutes to take the game to extra-time, where the hosts prevailed via Joachim Kayi Sanda’s goal and a second penalty, from Cameron Bragg.

The midfielder scored a penalty in defeat at St. Mary's.

“I thought the game reflected our season as a whole,” McSweeney reflected. “We were the dominant team, had chances that we didn’t take and then got sucker-punched on the counter-attack and set pieces before half-time, which knocked the wind out of our sails.

“Conceding the goals we did – two set pieces and two penalties – it’s a tough way to be defeated when those decisions go against you. But credit to the guys, at 3-0 down, to keep fighting and keep believing in what we were doing, and to get the comeback in the manner they did, it was such an exciting game.

“I wouldn’t say it (to win) was something we deserved, but the way we went about how we tried to play, we always had that threat and created chances in the first half that could have made the result different, especially with how the opposition set up.

“If we’d scored early, when we hit the post, then they would have had to come out of their low block and more spaces would have opened up, which would have suited our players, but we kept probing right through to the end.

McSweeney summarised the PL2 season after its conclusion.

“We should have snatched it in the last minute of injury-time. We had a great chance where the ball falls to Louis [Page] to make it 4-3, which would have been a monumental comeback and completed a fantastic turnaround, but it just didn’t materialise.

“As you go into extra-time, the tiredness of trying to get back into the game probably caught up with us and it was 30 minutes too much. Ultimately, we fell to defeat but there was so much good play and so much to be positive about that we will take into next season.”

Although naturally frustrated for the campaign to have come to a close, McSweeney took plenty away from the final fixture of the season and the way his side battled, showing their qualities at the top end of the pitch during a blistering spell towards the end of normal time.

The coach continued: “I couldn’t be prouder of the guys. Not only the character, but the quality they showed and the endeavour to keep going right until the last minute. To pull a three-goal deficit back and really take the upper hand in the game away from home at St. Mary’s, was just a great occasion.

Youngsters getting First Team experience.

“It was disappointing way to end, but I was so proud of them for the season they’ve had. I can’t be critical of the team. We went down there with a young side, but we have done all season. Every challenge that is thrown at them, they come up with answers.

“On a different day, with a bit of luck or a deflection, or it bouncing the right side of the post, the result can change on an instant. That’s football.”

Starters on the South Coast on Sunday, Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans have both been handed First Team debuts in recent weeks and McSweeney hopes to help guide more of the youngsters into the First Team during the remainder of the season and beyond, with Olabade Aluko also involved in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s recent Premier League matchday squads.

The 42-year-old added: “We know the calibre of player we have in the dressing room and that’s credit to everything which goes on in the Academy, right from foundation recruitment. In the grand scheme of things, we should be really proud as a Football Club, and particularly as an Academy, of the players we are producing.

The biggest focus all season is to get players involved in First Team training and the thinking for next season. “It keeps the interest alive and gives us something to work towards. There’s four games left in the First Team schedule and we’ll keep the guys on track and focused, so if any opportunities arise, they will be ready to go in and make a claim for inclusion next season.”

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