A Hell Of An Experience

Is probably what Youth star Ryan Simmonds wanted to say today after recovering from last nights Youth Cup Quarter Final.

Falling that I can think of a few far more uncouth phrases to describe the match against Fulham that saw Villa come from behind to push the match into extra time, before equilising again in basically the last minute of the match to push the game to penalties.

We of course won after two fantastic penalty saves from a young lad called Calum Barrett.

Speaking to the Official Site this morning, Simmonds described the win as a fantastical emotional rollercoaster and admits he fell to his knees when Fulham took the lead again in extra time.

'We went through loads of emotions. When they scored I was on my knees.'

Devine grabbed the leveller but nobody worried that it was scrappy.

'We said in the changing rooms it was a scrappy goal but it might be the most important goal of the season.'

Simmonds also had words of praise for Barrett, not only for the penalty saves, but for his general performance during the game.

'He is just 16 and was brilliant. He's still a schoolboy so a lot of credit should go to him.'

We all know Gary Gardner is the big name in the Youth team, but there's a number of them that are working their way into being household names with the performances of late.

Like usual, they have a long way to go yet but it seems the next generation are making steady progress through the Academy again.

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