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Match Previews

Rooney confident ahead of FA Youth Cup tie at Tamworth

13 November 2017

Match Previews

Rooney confident ahead of FA Youth Cup tie at Tamworth

13 November 2017

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Nathan Rooney says he has confidence in his team ahead of Tuesday night's FA Youth Cup second round tie at Tamworth (6pm).

Town's under 18s head coach saw his side overcome Guiseley in the first round last month, with his side hoping to become just the second team in the club history to make it to the third round.

Only once before has a Fleetwood Town youth side got to the third round, back in 2014 when they eventually lost to Premier League side Sunderland.
 
“I’m confident in the team," said Rooney.
 
"We’ve played a lot of good football. The question is will the occasion affect that, I always put that on the lads shoulders.
 
“Mentality is important in these games, and I also say to the the players that this will make you a player if you can play under these conditions and these occasions.“
 
Rooney highlighted his side's positive mentality, after coming through a tricky opening tie on penalties in West Yorkshire.
 
“To be fair we were really lucky getting through against Guiseley," added Rooney. 
 
"We lost at Chester in the first round last year, and we’ve got past that stage already this time around, so naturally we're looking forward to this game and hoping to progress.

“At the moment we’re just not putting the ball in the back of the net, that’s the thing we’re lacking."
 
Rooney however is optimistic about the upcoming game and believes a win could be the start of something special, with either Bromley or Stevenage being potential opponents in the third round.
 
“If the boys can do it on Tuesday night, which I’m very confident that they can, then we will be really happy as we always look forward to this competition as staff and players.
 
"To equal the club record would be nice, but we can only focus on this game and try our best to progress to the next round.
 
“We’ve got to take one step at a time. With young players, their heads go at 100 miles per hour, so we need to use the experience gained in the first round to help us on Tuesday."

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