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Beardsley - "It Could Have Gone Either Way"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Peter Beardsley spoke to nufc.co.uk after Newcastle's under-21s drew 0-0 against West Brom at a wet Whitley Park on Monday
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
There were no goals but plenty of positives for coach Peter Beardsley as Newcastle's under-21s drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion on Monday afternoon.
At a wet Whitley Park, it was a game of few clear-cut chances but Beardsley felt that the Magpies had the better of the opportunities against a Baggies side who remain unbeaten in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League this season.
United named four over-age players (teams are allowed to field three outfield players and a goalkeeper who are over the age of 21) as Yoan Gouffran, Siem de Jong, Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow all played the full match.
Darlow was making his comeback after recovering from an ankle injury while Gouffran, De Jong and Lascelles were included in order to maintain their match sharpness.
And Beardsley told nufc.co.uk: "I thought it was a good game, certainly in the first half.
"It could have gone either way but I thought in the second half we were on top and they had breakaways, which you understand is going to happen sometimes.
"But the boys have done really well. I was really pleased with them and I thought Gouff, Siem, Karl Darlow and Jamaal were top class.
"They set a good example to the kids. Nobody's perfect, nobody goes through a game without giving the ball away, but knowing you've made a mistake and doing something about it - that's what good players do.
"It's worked really well for us in the sense that we've got a lot of players out on loan at the moment - which is great - and it's great when the head coach gives us four senior heads.
"It's good for the kids because you can put the likes of young Gally (Owen Gallacher) on with Siem alongside him.
"And Lewis McNall, playing his first game, was unlucky not to score a couple of times, so it's all positive."
McNall, 16, has scored ten goals already this term for United's under-18 team and with the likes of Adam Armstrong, Ivan Toney, Sammy Ameobi, Alex Gilliead and Haris Vuckic all gaining valuable experience elsewhere, he was given his chance at second-string level.
"He did really well," said Beardsley. "As a coach, you promote the next one in line and at the moment Lewis is the next one in line.
"He's done really well for the Academy and hopefully he'll do well for us."