Everton Under-21s have been told they must learn to see games out after suffering a stoppage-time defeat at Shrewsbury Town in the Jersey Mike's Trophy.
Head of academy player development David Hughes believes there were plenty of positives from the trip but the young Blues need to improve their game management.
After falling behind to Isaac Fletcher's 51st-minute strike for the League Two side – who made 10 changes to their starting line-up from the weekend – Everton looked set to pick up their first point in the competition this season following substitute Omari Benjamin's 84th-minute equaliser.
However, the Shropshire outfit secured victory in stoppage time as their own substitute Jeval Thompson-McKenzie fired in from close range after the visitors failed to clear a corner-kick.
Hughes reflects on positives and disappointment
Hughes told the ECHO: "I think we're all pleased with many elements of some of the first-half play. We had numerous opportunities in the first half to have found ourselves in front and we didn't take them."
"When you don't do that, you get punished – and we did. It was miles better than Stockport in the first game of the season for sure."
"It was a different team, a different feel to the game, but ultimately, we came here for a pre-season friendly and re-emphasised to the players, we need to see progress from the level of performance we played in pre-season."
"I think we did, we look better. We've certainly got a competitive edge to the group of players. Ultimately, conceding that late on with the set-play is massively disappointing."
Benjamin impresses off the bench
One major positive from the night was the display off the bench from Benjamin – the former Arsenal youngster who Everton acquired in 2024. Hughes said: "He was very lively. A good threat with movement off the back line, he got between the lines and injected some pace and energy into it. Very, very good impact on off the bench."
"You know, I think you look at the way the game is now, people make five changes most weeks and as the tempo of the game maybe changes, you want them to inject some freshness and some fresh impetus into the game. Omari definitely did that."
When asked about the prospect of some of his youngsters being called upon by David Moyes' first team – especially for bench duty – with just 18 outfield players in the senior squad and injuries starting to bite, the 48-year-old said: "Well, all we can do is ensure we're preparing the players, we're continually pushing them. We're continually challenging them, supporting their development and that's all we'll do."
Fixture programme and next steps
Everton have now lost both of their group games in the competition this season, having gone down 6-3 at League One Stockport County in August despite coming back from a 3-0 deficit to briefly draw level. They will now go to Merseyside neighbours Tranmere Rovers for their third fixture on November 24.
Hughes enjoys the different types of experiences his charges are getting though and said: "It's massively important. The variation in the programme, we've played Borussia Moenchengladbach last week, we've played Solihull, Hartlepool, Boreham Wood, who are top of the National League, we've just played a team who are 10th in League Two and then you've got the league matches."
"The games that the boys have been afforded an experience in have been excellent. So, they all offer something different and you know, learning takes place in different environments."
"What we have to do is, as we said, we have to get to 93 minutes and we can't lose a game."
