Richard Beale: Happy With Performance

Solihull Moors was the venue this afternoon as Blues U21 side played host to Barnsley’s young team. On an afternoon that had swirling winds, the quality of football was lacking but this is to be expected. The wind played a crucial part in one of the goals. Hancox lobbed the ‘keeper from a cross in which the wind gave him a helping hand. Before Popa scored with a brilliant drive; Hancox with the assist.

Richard Beale spoke to the official bcfc.com site and started off by saying; ‘The performance was hampered slightly by the conditions…really pleased with a professional performance.’

It shows a certain amount of flexibility to adapt to conditions and we certainly did it better than Barnsley. They were very consistent in terms of trying to play passing football but with the conditions as they were, this just isn’t an option. So I think that the lads can take great heart and played in a way which was very mature.

Beale continued: ‘In the first-half I didn`t think we really threatened.’
This was certainly true. In parts, Barnsley looked the better side and if their finishing was more composed, then I think that our clean sheet would have been in serious doubt. But we did defend well. A noticeable mention to Hancox and Harding who both defended very well and organised that back line.

‘We got Reece (Brown) on the ball…We got more crosses into the box and…had the stroke of luck with Mitch`s goal.’
I do like the look of Brown. When he was able to have the ball, he created a lot of chances, often trying to play into the winger which worked well given the conditions. I think that he can push on now and really look to push for a first team slot if not, he should go on loan as he is too good for the U21 league.

‘He`s claiming he meant it!’ Hancox’s cheeky little personality hasn’t changed a bit though as Beale says that Hancox has claimed that he was shooting. We aren’t all so sure though!

Interestingly Beale goes on to say how he thinks that Popa can push on from his regular starts in the U21’s now that Jones has moved out on loan. I took his quote of ‘he`s going to get an opportunity now that Alex Jones has moved out and gone to New Zealand,’ to mean that he thought Popa was getting a bit overshadowed by Jones but can now see what he is made of.

In terms of the quality of the players, they cannot be judged on this one game but their attitude certainly can. Beale certainly was very impressed with this side of their game. ‘Attitude, work rate and their body language…they got that spot on.’

Since Rowett has taken over at the club, there seems to be a coherence about the youth set up. Beale displays this when he goes on to say that the way that he wanted them to play is ‘at First Team level really.’

In more positive news, Koby Arthur played 60 minutes of the game after his recent injury because he was ‘only allowed to play 60.’ So to see him come back and do a solid shift is great and many want to see him really kick on from here. He has the strength to do it and the work rate but just needs to learn the right passes sometimes.

All in all it was a good victory from the U21’s and Beale hopes to see this level of performance be proven consistently.