Elite Development Squad Lead Coach Oliver Reiss spoke of the EFL Trophy as a learning experience following a 5-0 defeat to Port Vale.

Four first half goals from Maleace Asamoah, Aaron McGowan, Max Watters and Lewis Monstma saw the hosts race out of the blocks. 

City were unable to find a way back into the tie as Keyrol Figueroa headed behind on the 64th minute mark, coming straight off the bench.

The Young Blues almost snagged a goal back through Kylan Midwood in the final moments but our valiant efforts would amount to nothing as we were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at Vale Park.

Reiss explained how the competition is a good place to develop and learn by testing ourself against professional men’s sides. 

“I think we lost against their style of play,” he said on his reflection of the game. 

“I don’t think we lost against a better team in terms of the performance. I was OK with the performance, not at all the phases of course, and especially not in all the action and situations.

“We have to do better. We can do better. We should have done better.

“But again, this was more losing against their style of play.

“I think 5-0 is a little bit too much, we deserve to score at least one or two goals in terms of our performance, especially in the second-half.”

“But again, so we knew this before, these kind of attacks and this style of play going straight and a lot of crosses and very dangerous in corner kicks and set pieces.

“And this is the first way we conceded the goals and again, this competition is for us a learning opportunity.”