Jamie Lowry

Lowry previews Youth Cup trip to Everton

Argyle Under-18s are looking to further their FA Youth Cup run on Tuesday night when travelling north to play Everton away from home. 

Victories over Carlisle United, at Brunton Park, and at home to Lincoln City secured the Greens’ position in the fifth round of the competition, and a tie in Merseyside against the Toffees. 

Everton had confident victories in the two previous rounds. A seven-goal thrashing over Nottingham Forest set up a fourth-round tie against Wolverhampton Wanders at Goodison Park, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the home side. 

The 7pm kick-off will not be taking place in the famous stadium like in rounds prior. Walton Hall Park, the home of Everton Women, is the venue for the important tie in which Head Coach Jamie Lowry believes his side can find a result. 

“We are all really excited about the opportunity we've got,” Lowry told Argyle TV. “It's something the boys have earned over the last couple of rounds, but is obviously quite new to them. It is really exciting to go and have the challenge of playing against one of the top Category 1 academies.  

“We’ve had a good, clear week running into the match, with preparation and the detail we want to get into the lads. It’s been a really good week. [We] managed to manage the players and get some tougher days in at the start of the week, and a lot more game prep towards the end of the week and weekend leading into Tuesday's game. 

“Everyone needs to perform at the best of their ability. I think that's a simple way of putting it. We need to be at the top of our game. We need to want to fight and work hard. All the things we talk about anyway in a basic game for us is what we need to be at our very best at to compete and give ourselves a chance of winning.” 

With the game still holding its importance despite the change of venue, Lowry is hoping it gives his side the boost needed to prove a point and secure a place in the final eight of the competition and in the country. 

He said: “It [not being at Goodison Park] is something that the boys were disappointed with. They wanted to have an opportunity to go and play at the best stadiums and a Premier League stadium. The boys were gutted at the start, but it's something, maybe motivation, that we're going to use to hopefully go and perform and give ourselves the best chance of progressing into the next round. 

“It's still an opportunity to go and play against a very good side. It will be a decent surface and there will be a good little crowd there, so there's still lots to take away from it and lots to give ourselves a challenge for in the game.”