Under-18s v Oxford United (A) | Preview

Argyle’s Under-18s remain on top of the Youth Alliance League, and remain on course for a title victory as the games remaining get fewer, but as they travel to Oxford United this weekend, they need to bounce back from a tricky couple of weeks.

After losing to Exeter City in the league, Argyle lost to Portsmouth last Saturday in the Area Final of the Youth Alliance Cup. Defeats have been rare this season, so to suffer two in a row is a setback.

A setback, though, that manager Jamie Lowry is confident his players can overcome.

“It’s been a difficult couple of results over the last two weeks, but it is something that part of their learning and development,” he said.

“We had a debrief on Monday to reflect on Saturday’s game and the Exeter game as well, what it looks like and dealing with the pressures of where we are.

“Every day we talk about learning and how to improve – coaches as well as players.

“We set the challenge to win the league. I don’t think it’s been done for nine years, so that’s a little bit of added pressure as well, as people keep reminding us.

“It’s about how we perform; get performances right and results right. Oxford are always strong. One of the toughest bits is the journey; it’s a really early start. Getting that right is important, eating at the right moments and all that is really key.

“It’s really important that we apply what we are about, what we have done well all season.”

On the day that the Under-18s lost to Portsmouth, they were without midfielder Caleb Roberts, who was not only with the first-team squad, but started the Emirates FA Cup tie away to Leeds United, which the Pilgrims drew 1-1.

Lowry might have been frustrated with how his side got on that morning, but seeing Roberts take his place in the starting 11 at Elland Road was a huge boost.

“That’s what we are in the job for, that we spend all the hours working for, all the training time we have spent with him,” said Jamie. “Caleb came in at 12, I worked with him at his first age group. It cheered me up a bit from the Portsmouth game.

“We’re all proud of him, delighted for him. It’s a great start for him to kick on and hopefully get a few more starts and be involved in a few more Championship games.”