Shan pleased with FA Youth Cup progress

 

Goals from Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Bradley Burrowes and Cole Brannigan did the damage for the hosts in a 3-0 win at Villa Park. 

 

A commanding performance left Shan to reflect positively on events in B6. 

“I’m delighted with the result,” he said.

 

“It was a difficult performance. Plymouth came with a game plan that made it very difficult, putting lots of bodies behind the ball.

 

“We probably scored at the perfect time. If we’d have gone in 0-0 at half-time we would have been frustrated, but the boys needed to be a little bit more patient and clinical when we were getting bodies in the box. 

 

“The goal came at a great time and changed the game a little bit because we knew they’d have to adapt tactically.

 

“In the second half there were moments when the pitch opened up and the spaces became bigger. We found that route into the final third a little easier.” 

 

Victory against the Pilgrims keeps Villa’s quest for a fifth Youth Cup alive, and they will be at home again when they play Manchester United in the semi-finals.

Shan is proud of the way his squad has negotiated their way through the competition thus far.

 

He said: “We’ve utilised the whole squad during the competition.

 

“We had the first game where a lot of the boys dropped down from the Under-21s and then we didn’t have them in the second game against Newcastle.

 

“We’ve definitely utilised every Under-18s player.  We’ve got big numbers and there are going to be a lot of disappointed boys who didn’t get on the pitch.

 

“They’ve shown great character, attitude and a togetherness to work hard.”