EDS eager to respond to Palace 'reality check', says Heskey | OneFootball

Jaden Heskey described Sunday’s frustrating 3-2 PL2 defeat to Crystal Palace as a reality check for City’s Elite Development Squad – but insists there is so much more to come as the season approaches its decisive final two months.

Having powered into a 2-0 half-time lead against the young Eagles, City saw the visitors hit back to level affairs after the break before a 93rd minute strike saw Palace claim an unlikely victory.

It was a disappointing way to sign off for the City youngsters ahead of the March international break.

But with the City Under-21s still top of the PL2 standings – and with a huge UEFA Youth League quarter-final away to AZ Alkmaar also on the horizon - Heskey said the Blues youngsters would redouble their efforts as we step up our push for silverware on two fronts.

“I think it was a bit of a reality check because we've done well in the last few months,” Heskey reflected.

“I don't think it was good enough from us in the end. It was a good start in the first half we went 2-0 up but it was early in the second half when we lost a duel and ended up conceding.

“I thought we could have taken the game to him a bit better as well as it was only 2-1 at the time and we had a few chances to make it 3-1, but it just didn't go our way.

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“We could have been a lot better, but we'll just have to move on to the next game.

“And I think there's a lot more to come.

“I think everyone will reflect and know that we can give a lot better than we did on Sunday and even better than we've been throughout the season.

“This is the main end of the season now and this is where we should be playing our best football. So yes, I think there's a lot more to come.”

Heskey and his colleagues are pursuing a twin trophy assault with the City youngsters top of the PL2 table with two games of the regular season left ahead of the play-off stage.

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And next month’s trip to Alkmaar marks our furthest foray into the UEFA Youth League since the 2017/18 season  when we lost to Barcelona in the semi-finals.

“It's what you play for [to be in this position],” Heskey added.

“Getting to the end of the season and you have stuff to win.

“We want to go as far as we can in the UEFA Youth League and obviously in PL2 to finish top in the league stage and then see how the play-offs goes.

“We haven't won the UEFA Youth League as a club, so that's a big one we want to go for as well.

“Obviously we've won the PL2 title, the last time was the season before last, but I wasn't really involved too much.

“So, we're looking forward to it, but we just know we have to be better than we were on Sunday and the key for us is just to look to the next game.”