Ball: Kids can still see off Man City
Kevin Ball was left undaunted by Sunderland's 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg last night.
And he immediately called upon the youngsters to take the fight to to the Blues when the two meet again for the second leg at the City of Manchester Stadium next Tuesday.
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He said: "I still firmly believe we are in with a great chance of going down there next week and getting a good result. We are certainly still in it and the players know exactly what's required.
"We haven't really discussed the tactics next week – whether we'll go for it from the off or whether we'll take a more measured approach.
We'll look at that over the next few days but I know that the lads are still full of belief."We will go to Manchester looking to win the game because that's what we have to do."
One of the reasons why Ball remains full of self-belief is the number of clear-cut chances his Under 18 side produced, even though they were out of luck in front of goal.
He said: "You have to wonder how we are not in the game with at least a goal to our credit, given the number of chances we have created. We bossed the game in terms of possession in the first half but went in a goal down because of a deflection.
"Second half we've created enough chances to have got back into it, especially a good chance early on which hit the post and if that had gone in then it would have been a lot different. But we have to take the positives out of it.
"We are 2-0 down at half-time in the tie and we have to go there looking to make the most of our chances next time.
"Ball knows that the team will have to improve not only their finishing but also their defending on Tuesday.
He said: "Both goals we conceded were from set-plays, rather than open play, which was disappointing."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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