Head of Academy Coaching, Graham Biggs praises players togetherness ahead of FA Cup tie...
After taking charge of the youth team for their 2-0 victory over Bury on Saturday, Head of Academy Coaching, Graham Biggs, reflects on a big week at the club.Following the departure of Neil Woods, Biggs was handed the reins for Saturday’s game and thanks to goals from Ashley Maddocks and Cameron Peters managed to extend our winning run to six games, recording six clean sheets in the process.
After the match, Biggs praised the players for their reaction to losing their Manager and highlighted the togetherness in the group during an uncertain period in their careers.
“The boys trained well in the week leading up to the Bury game and the sole purpose was to maintain our performance levels,” Biggs explained. “We started with a really high tempo and credit to Bury for matching it.
“You could see both sides were trying to take control of the game and in fairness neither dominated the first half.
“We got them in at the break, had a chat and tried to tweak a few things.
“What pleased me the most is the way they responded to our instruction. They went out in the second half and took on board our suggestions as they always do.
“The game was still finely poised and they hit the post following a break down our right hand side.
“It seemed to galvanise the boys and we showed real resilience at that stage to get a result from the game.
“After sticking in there, we managed to get our noses in front with a really well taken header by Ashley [Maddocks]. The delivery from the free-kick was really dangerous and Ashley done well to lose his marker and power the header home.
“Again we didn’t sit back after going ahead and within a couple of minutes Cameron Peters made it 2 after a neat passage of play.
“With the boys togetherness and resolve, I felt at that point like the result was never in doubt and we saw out the game with real professionalism.”
Biggs will again take charge of the young Saddlers for their FA Youth Cup tie at Chesterfield on Thursday evening (7.00pm kick-off).
“It’s the biggest youth competition there is in this country and it’s the one the players look forward to the most.
“It gives the lads the opportunity to play at main stadiums, under the floodlights and progress to play some big sides.
“It’s something we’re all relishing but we know we’re in for a tough evening.
“Chesterfield are a very good team with a good group of players. They’ve got a good youth team manager and come into the game off the back of a 4-0 win against Grimsby Town at the weekend.
“We’ll be working on one or two things over the next few days and will look to apply ourselves as we have all season.
“If we play to our capabilities then I’m confident the boys can get a result.”