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Let's Finish On A High, Says Beardsley
Written by Newcastle Utd
Peter Beardsley wants his under-21 side to finish their season with a victory as they host Brighton at St. James' Park
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Newcastle United host Brighton & Hove Albion at St. James' Park on Monday night (7pm kick-off) in their final game of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Division Two season.
United were beaten 3-1 at Arsenal on Friday night and will now face the Seagulls in what will be Peter Beardsley's side's third game within the space of a week.
His side came up against a Gunners second string featuring the likes of Jack Wilshere, on his return from injury, Tomas Rosicky and Serge Gnabry on Friday at the Emirates Stadium.
And Beardsley is hopeful that the Magpies can finish the season on a positive note after turning in a battling display against an illustrious Arsenal side.
"Arsenal had three top players on the pitch, and I thought that Bielik, the centre back as an 18-year-old, was outstanding, so they've got a lot of good kids and they're known for that," he said.
"To be fair to Steve Gatting (Arsenal Under-21s coach), he realised that ours in the main, apart from our two senior players, were very young. It was great experience for them. Even though they've lost, they'll take a lot from it.
"Ben (Dawson, professional development phase coach) made the point at half-time that maybe they were a bit overawed in the first half, but then in the second half I thought it was a very even game that could have gone either way."
The Magpies faced Brighton last month at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium, where winger Callum Roberts bagged a second half equaliser to rescue a point.
And Beardsley is hopeful that they'll be able to go one better on Monday and see off the challenge of Simon Rusk's men, who sit bottom of Division Two having won just once in 21 league outings this season.
"That was a good game - another one that could've gone either way," he said, reflecting on the reverse fixture. "It'd be nice for them to finish on a high.
"They're a good set of kids, they're all very genuine and they all give their maximum, so in that sense we can't ask any more. It would be nice for them to finish off on a high on Monday."
Many of the current United under-21 squad are likely to again be part of the second string side for next season's campaign.
As his youngsters have picked up plenty of experience at that level already, Beardsley says the prospect of helping to develop players who have had an early taste of Barclays Under-21 Premier League football is an exciting one.
"When you consider that, in the main, they all could pretty much play under-19s football, in that sense it's really good," he said.
"But they have to gain the experience and take it on board, and hopefully move forward. That's the big thing.
"This group, the nucleus of it, should be together for the next couple of years at least, so we're looking forward to that."