Big night for youngsters

Tom Ince - in the Burnley side tonight

Both of us are in this final having forced dramatic comebacks in the regional finals. Swindon were 2-0 down to QPR but fought back to 2-2 in 90 minutes before winning it 3-2.

For the Clarets it was even more dramatic, 3-0 down at Oldham after 18 minutes we looked down and out and when it went 4-1 early in the second half there certainly seemed no way back.

But we got it to 4-4 by the end of normal time and then had to fight back again in extra time to take it to penalties after a 5-5 draw. We won the penalty shoot out convincingly, winning it 4-1. We didn’t miss a spot kick and Michael Hale made two good saves out of three to take us to this final.

Michael, we believe, looks set to miss out tonight with Mark Crossley preferred in goal whilst striker Alex Taylor is definitely ruled out with ankle ligament damage that has kept him out of the side recently.

With Ryan Townsend back we can expect the young Clarets to line up: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry, Neal Trotman (captain), Ryan Townsend, Martin Reilly, Marc Pugh, Joe Booth, Chris McCann, Tom Ince, Cayne Hanley, Kyle Lafferty.

Should Ryan not make it then Chris McCann will almost certainly move into the back four with Nicky Platt taking his place in midfield. Otherwise Platt will join Hale and Adam Jones on the bench along with players from the Centre of Excellence.

Our opponents Swindon may well be forced into leaving out two of their best players because manager Andy King wants them for next Saturday’s final first team game of the season.

Former Forest winger Ian Woan is youth coach at Swindon and he confirmed that both Kyle Lapham and Michael Pook could find themselves sitting it out because King is reluctant to play them due to their likely inclusion at the weekend.

Both started in the defeat at Huddersfield on Saturday. It was Lapham’s debut but Pook has now played six first team games. Woan though is hoping King will allow them to play part of the game tonight.

“They have been two massive players for this youth team,” said Woan. “I can though see where the gaffer is coming from because our job is to try and bring lads through to the first team.

“For some of these lads this may be their last game for Swindon Town after being with the club since the age of nine. I know both Kyle and Michael want to play in the final and maybe we can twist the gaffer’s arm yet.”

The Clarets are the favourites but Woan added, “The lads have a great attitude and they look out for each other and have great character. You just have to remember that there is no tomorrow in a cup final. You need to enjoy it and give it everything you’ve got.”

Swindon’s squad will also include some under-16s including Andy Westhall, Scott Doe, Chris Allen and Sam Morris.

They have travelled up in style, on the first team coach with a hotel stop, and those in their full squad is:

Matty Bulman, Leigh Henry, Scott Doe, Kyle Lapham, Gary Pryde, Chris Allen, Ben Wells, Michael Pook, Andy Caton, Ashan Holgate, Lance Lewis, Jon Stewart, Sam Morris, Andy Westhall, David Stroud, Lukas Jutkiewicz.