Tranmere Rovers Youth Team manager Andy Parkinson admits that mistakes cost his players in their 3-1 defeat away at Blackpool on Saturday morning.
The U18s were knocked out of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup on their travels at Squires Gate, as the Tangerines advanced to the next round of the competition.
Andy Parkinson gave his thoughts on the performance as Rovers’ youngsters slipped to a loss on the Fylde Coast.
Parkinson said: “The players are getting punished for silly mistakes they know the answers to. At the moment, we feel that the players are struggling a little bit to transfer the work on the training ground into performances on the pitch, which happens sometimes with young players.
“There were a couple of good individual performances, which we’re pleased with, but collectively it’s just not happening at the moment. We have to keep positive and keep moving forward and do the right things the right way. They all want to succeed and make a good account of themselves. It's just not working when it comes to getting results at the moment.
“We want them to have that desire to tackle, they just have to be sensible with it, because they're in the penalty area. At the moment, it's about a lapse in concentration, which is giving away penalties.’
”It's important for the team to get back on the right track. They get everything they need when it comes to preparation on training days and game days. At the moment, it's just not happening for them. With any team that's struggling, it's important to stick to your principles and increase your application, and that will be the same for us going into our next fixture.”
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