FA YOUTH CUPAston Villa 3 Colchester 1COLCHESTER United's youth team manager, Joe Dunne, blasted his side for a “totally unacceptable” performance in a one-sided FA Youth Cup third round tie at Villa Park last night.

By Carl Marston

FA YOUTH CUP

Aston Villa 3 Colchester 1

COLCHESTER United's youth team manager, Joe Dunne, blasted his side for a “totally unacceptable” performance in a one-sided FA Youth Cup third round tie at Villa Park last night.

The U's youths are currently top of the Youth Alliance League, but they were below par against hosts Aston Villa, who coasted to victory.

Stephen Opoka netted what proved to be only a consolation goal for the Essex visitors.

Dunne rued: “I'm very, very disappointed, not about the result but about the performance. There was no fight and there was no character.

“My biggest fear was that we would freeze on the big stage, and that fear was realised.

“We didn't go about it in the right way. I find it totally unacceptable.

“The assistant manager (Mick Harford) was here to watch us play tonight. He wanted to see how the team would react under pressure. In the end, they totally under-performed.

“These words might sound a little harsh, especially as regards a youth team, but I believe in telling it as it is. We let ourselves down. It was a shocking display.

“All of Aston Villa's three goals were the result of us giving the ball away. They were silly mistakes,” added Dunne.

Anthony Wordsworth hit the bar for the visitors, and Opoka's goal was the only other highlight.

However, by that time the game was already dead and buried and the U's Cup run was over.