'This week was all about winning' says U19s striker

Thursday 16 Oct 2014
Fewster has scored four times in three qualifiers
Two-goal Bradley Fewster believes England U19s’ win over Belgium goes a long way to proving how good this group of players can become.

Sean O’Driscoll’s side eased to victory in their opening two Euro qualifiers, against Belarus and Luxembourg – two wins which sealed their progress to the final round of qualifying next spring.

And Middlesbrough striker Fewster scored a brace as the Young Lions saw off the Belgians 4-2, after twice being pegged back, to make it three wins from three.

ENGLAND 4-2 BELGIUM

UEFA U19s Championship
First Qualifying Round
Wednesday 15 October
Avenir Beggen FC, Luxembourg

He said: "Three wins - it’s what we came here to do. We are disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet against Belgium, but it’s international football and we know that’s not always possible. This week was about winning.

"We showed we can score goals and that we can play teams off the park. The Belgium game tested us in a different way. We showed how strong we are as a group, how together we are and how good a team we can be to keep plugging away."

He continued: "Credit to Belgium. They made it hard for us and it could have gone either way in the second half. They put a lot of pressure on us but we stuck at it. We always feel we can score and as soon as we got the third I felt the game was ours. We dominated from there and got the win.

"I think that stands us in good stead for the rest of the season."

Fewster’s double brought his goal tally up to four in three qualifiers – five in four U19s matches in all, after his strike against Germany last month. It was also his fifth goal against Belgium in 2014, having scored a hat-trick against them for the U18s in February.

However, although the stats sound impressive, Fewster says he has simply achieved his minimum target.

Bradley Fewster celebrates

Fewster also scored in last month's friendly against Germany

He explained: "I always aim to score in every game. I actually set myself a target of scoring more goals than games I play, so I’m happy with four in three and five in four. But I’m a striker so it’s what I do.

"There were chances in the Belgium game where I could have had a couple more, so I’m a bit disappointed with that, but it’s just about staying in the game and taking the next chance that comes along."

With the Elite Qualifying Round not due to take place until next May, the U19s will continue their development against Italy at Rotherham United FC on Friday 14 November.

Fewster, who played for the U18s against Germany at the New York Stadium in April, added: "It’s going to be a tough game.

"Hopefully I’ll be involved. It’s good to play against teams like Italy because they are the sort of sides we’ll be playing in the Euros if we get there so it will be a great test for us."

By Glenn Lavery in Luxembourg