We'll learn from Swans defeat, says Beardsley

Adam Wilson put a youthful Magpies side ahead with a fine finish early on at Swansea’s Landore training base, giving them a lead they held until just after the hour.

But Botti Biabi and Adnan Maric’s pair of close-range finishes within five minutes of each other saw the hosts claim the points.

And United legend Beardsley admitted that the result was tough on his youngsters, but hopes that the reverse in Wales is something they can learn from.

“We conceded two similar goals, and ultimately that’s what changed the game – that five minute period,” he told nufc.co.uk. “Once we went 2-1 down, we’re chasing the game. The whole dynamic of the game changes, and we never really looked like equalising if I’m being honest. There were a couple of scrambles, but they weren’t really what I would call chances.

“Once they got the first goal, their tails were up, and at that stage I was thinking that 1-1 wouldn’t be a bad result – an away draw in a cup competition.

“But in the end to lose, when really over the whole 90 minutes we didn’t deserve to lose, we’re disappointed in that sense.

“We can learn from it, move on and now we’ve got a nine-day break, where Ben (Dawson) can work with them and do a bit extra, and get back to what we’ve done in the first half of the season.”

It was the Magpies’ second defeat to Swansea within the space of five days, after their 3-1 Premier League 2 Division Two loss at the same venue on Monday.

With players out on loan and the likes of Stuart Findlay, Dan Barlaser and Yasin Ben El-Mhanni unavailable after they made their first team debuts in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Birmingham City in midweek, this week’s fixtures represented an opportunity for some younger players – such as defender Lewis Cass, midfielder Matty Longstaff and goalkeeper Ben Smith – to make their marks.

“It’s good experience for them. It’s hard, because they’re thrown in at the deep end,” said Beardsley. “Young Cassy did okay today, and Adam Wilson scored a great goal and probably did better for us further forward. He’s done really well for us over the last month.

“Ben Smith was thrown into the deep end today, and got himself a game so that’s good for him. There’s always positives.

“Young Tommy Allan got on, Matty Longstaff got on, so in lots of ways we’re back to what we were. Last season, we were very young for this level, and now, for the second half of the season it’ll be exactly the same.

“The big plus for us as a club is that we had three kids making their debuts the other night, and that is just something you can’t buy or put a price on. It’s amazing for them and hopefully, before the end of the season, there’ll be one or two more.”