After escaping from Dundee United with a 5-4 win Celtic’s u-19 side remain on course for the league and cup double.
Winning isn’t the be all and end all of youth football but at u-19 level developing good habits and a winning
mentality is essential if players are to develop into first team material.
Despite the euphoria of yesterday’s dramatic comeback coach Stevie Frail will be studying the full match, warts and all, as he prepares his side for Saturday’s league match at home to Hamilton Accies.
He said: “It would be an easy excuse to put our first half performance down to rustiness (the youth’s hadn’t played a competitive match in two months) but we’re not giving them any excuses. They know that they didn’t play well and can do better.
“We asked for the character side at half time and that’s what they gave us. We need to do better and in the second half we were terrific.
“At half time and then ten minutes into the second half we were out of the cup. We know we made a lot of mistakes, if we are being totally honest we didn’t play anything like we can.
“There are things for us to work on but sticking with the positives we’re delighted to be in the semi-finals.
“We got there not by playing silky football but by getting the sleeves up, working as a group and when they put that Celtic jersey on they know how they need to react because we want to be in everything. In the second half the players were big enough and strong enough to stand up to that.”
Goalkeeper Andy Kennedy had a difficult time yesterday but pulled off a great block at 4-4 just before Filip Twardzik’s winning goal.
Frail added: “We highlighted Andy in the dressing room after the game, he had a terrific save at a crucial time and he needs to take the credit for that.
“He’s a good goalkeeper, he’ll suffer a little bit, he’ll take a knock to his confidence but we’ll get around that. He had a great save at 0-0 and again late on.
“Although we went up the park and scored goals he kept us in it at the back.”
Dubliner Richie Towell was moved from right-back into central midfield and was delighted to be part of a dramatic win despite so many changes being made to the side that played before the winter break.
He said: “I’ve never been involved in a game like that- it was crazy but great to get a result in the end.
“When the final goal went in it was a great feeling. Their supporters were giving us some stick, there was a lot going on and getting into semi-finals was fantastic.
“It was good to play in an SPL stadium with a bit of a crowd.
“We got slaughtered at half-time by the manager and we deserved it. Stevie, Chris (McCart) and Tommy (McIntyre) gave us a rollicking, we were terrible in the first half.
“United got the next goal but that gave us the kick up the backside that we needed to go and get the victory.
“A few new players came into the team and that showed the quality we have throughout the squad.
“It’s great to have a good squad and hopefully we can now go all the way. We feel that we are the best team at this level, it shows in our results.
“Even if we are getting beat we have the spirit to come back. Hopefully no matter who we get in the semis we can get the win.”
FULL MATCH REPORT: DUNDEE UTD 4-5 CELTIC
EVENING HERALD REPORT ON ABERDEEN MATCH