LFC Academy News: Owens calls for more of same - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 1 Oct 2004
Owens calls for more of same
Chris Wright, Daily Post

CONSISTENCY will the key for Liverpool under-18s this weekend.

John Owens's side travel to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow (kick-off 11am) fresh
from their second victory of the season at Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

But unlike their first victory they will be hoping to start a decent run of
form and results as their season finally seems to be taking off.

Three straight defeats at the beginning of the FA Premier Academy League
campaign were put to an end with victory over Middlesbrough. But defeat to
Newcastle a week later appeared to put Liverpool back to square one.

So after last week's win the Reds youngsters will be keen to go on an
unbeaten run and provide the consistent performances Owens and the rest of
the Academy coaches know they are capable of.

Owens said: "It has been an up and down season in many ways. We have been
looking for a good performance and last week we got it, particularly in the
second half.

"We want to try and put some good performances together and get the
results. Of course it is not always the result that indicates the
performance, but if you play well you have got a good chance of getting the
result.

Even when we have lost some games we haven't played poorly for the 90 minutes.

"We have put together some good football, but to win a game is the main
indicator you are doing well. We just need to get that consistency during
the match and from game to game," he added..

With a reserve game last night and a European fixture for the first team
earlier in the week, Owens won't finalise his side until he has assessed
the fitness of all his squad, especially those who feature in Hugh
McAuley's second string.

Defender Francis Smith should return to training next week, but the other
two long-term casualties - Jordan Holmes and Adam Hitchen - will be out for
a couple more months at least.