Portsmouth Football Club News

Pompey academy coach Ian Woan knows that drawing Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup is about as tough as it gets. Woan’s under-18 Academy side prepare for their fourth round clash with Manchester City at Fratton Park on Wednesday evening knowing it will be the stiffest test yet of his side’s development credentials. City are the FA Youth Cup holders and are seven points clear of second-placed Liverpool in their academy league, with a plus-36 goal difference. Unbeaten this season, some of City’s more notable victories have come against Middlesbrough (9-2), Blackburn (8-0) and Barnsley (6-1) as they have racked up 52 goals in 14 matches. Pompey, who only gained academy status 18 months ago, finished their first-ever season in a magnificent fourth-placed position. They continue to take giant strides but Woan has no illusions about the task awaiting his charges for Wednesday night’s clash, which kicks off at 7pm. “Manchester City are about the hardest draw we could have landed,” he said. “The good thing is that we’re playing the fourth-round tie at Fratton Park and I believe it will whet the public appetite. “We’re playing ten year catch-up with a side like our FA Youth Cup opponents and other big academy sides so we have a long way to go to really match them. “But we’re definitely making strides in the right direction and want to give a good account of ourselves.” Pompey and City will at least enter the game on a level playing field with regards to the football they have tasted over the past few weeks. With the traditional seasonal break followed by a freezing snap, match action has been in short supply recently. “The timing of the game is not ideal in that we have just returned from our Christmas shut down which all academy sides have,” said Woan. “The lads reported back on January 5 and we did have a couple of games lined up but unfortunately the weather intervened. “So we’ve made do with a practice match between ourselves to try to get some work back into the boys. “But they’ve worked hard in the last week and got some football back into their legs so they’ll be ready for the occasion. “We’ll not be approaching the game against Manchester City any differently to the league games we play throughout the season. “There can be no losing sight of what we’re trying to do, which is to develop the lads. So we won’t get wrapped up in what Manchester City can do. “We’ll be making sure we’re at our best and will be fully prepared. Then we’ll see how the game goes. “Playing at Fratton Park is a good education in itself for the boys and if there is a bit of a crowd in then that’s even better. “The difference with this game is it is a bit of a one-off, so we will possibly be a bit more tactical in our approach. But it all adds up to another piece of the lads’ education.” Although victory against City would be nice, whatever the result Pompey’s youth team coach will not lose sight of the main aim of his job. Woan said: “At the end of the day while it’s very nice to win academy games and get the plaudits for that, we’re here to get a player in the first team squad. “That’s what we’ll be judged on, not creating a team, but getting an individual through the first team door. “Some of our lads already play at reserve team level, which is another step up the ladder. So all in all you can see the development.”

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