EFL Trophy performance a step in the right direction says Wilkinson | OneFootball

Ben Wilkinson says his team’s dominating performance against Chesterfield on Tuesday evening was a step in the right direction following our Premier League 2 defeat to Liverpool in the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season.

City’s Elite Development Squad picked up our first point of the EFL Trophy campaign after a 1-1 draw with the National League champions but lost 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out in a contest for an extra point in Group G.

But the Lead Coach was pleased with how his team performed after just our second game of the new campaign.

“For us it was a step in the right direction,” said Wilkinson.

“Obviously we are still so early in the season and almost for us in terms of match minutes it’s almost like we’re in pre-season for the players.

“So I felt we made some big steps forward Saturday in terms of a performance which was really pleasing.

“And yeah at one point it looked like we were probably going to hold on and win the game so it was disappointing in that sense to concede from a free-kick.

“So that’s frustrating because we’ve done a lot of work on our defensive work and things like that. But all in all it’s a positive night,” continued Wilkinson.

“We’re not going to get too hung up on the outcome of the penalties. And I think from Saturday we’ve come forward quite a long way.”

Wilkinson and his team will be straight back to the City Football Academy with games coming thick and fast for the EDS.

They travel back to Derbyshire on Friday 23 August for a 19:00 (UK) kick-off against Derby County in the Premier League 2.

And Wilkinson expects another difficult challenge but one City are welcoming with open arms.

“Derby is always a very difficult game, especially away from home,” Wilkinson admitted.

“We had a really tough fixture there last year. And I think the big challenge now is to try and recover the players when they’re short on match minutes to go again.

“Saturday to Tuesday to Friday is a very quick turnaround. And by the same token we’ve got to be ready for a difficult game and expect the same level of intensity and performance.”