The FA Youth Cup

Wigley takes inspiration from Youth Cup champions

Wednesday 30 Apr 2014
Wigley's side take a 3-2 lead to Stamford Bridge in The Final's second leg
Steve Wigley is hoping Fulham can take inspiration from last year’s FA Youth Cup champions Norwich City, ahead of next week’s Final second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Wigley’s side hold a one goal lead over west London neighbours Chelsea following Monday’s first leg at Craven Cottage, which ended 3-2 to Fulham.

And it’s a similar scenario to last season’s Youth Cup Final when Norwich beat Chelsea by 1-0 in their first leg at Carrow Road before upsetting the Blues at the Bridge with a 3-2 win in the second tie.

Fulham celebrate their third goal in The Final against Chelsea.

Fulham's players celebrate their second goal at Craven Cottage

 


"Norwich did it last year at Stamford Bridge so hopefully that might still be in their memories on Monday," said Wigley, after seeing goals from Moussa Dembele, Emerson Hyndman and Cameron Burgess secure the win.

"I always felt there would be goals in the game and I thought there wouldn’t be much in it, so it was always going to come down to what happens at Stamford Bridge.

"But anything is do-able with this group of players so I don’t fear the game and we’ll go and be a little bit more positive than we were in the first leg.

"We’ll have to go and play better than we did, but I’m pretty sure that we will because we weren’t at our best in the first leg.

"We are perhaps fortunate to have that lead, we know that, but we did show a lot of character and resilience in the game. At 1-0 down, nearly 70 minutes into the game, if you’d have told me we would have taken a lead into the second leg, I’d have taken it there and then."

Watch highlights of the first leg of The FA Youth Cup Final

 


 With Chelsea having reached The Final in four of the last seven seasons, they will still be seen as favourites to turn the scoreline around in front of their own fans.

And former England Under-21s assistant coach Wigley is still happy to make the short trip with the pressure mounting on their hosts.

"They’re a top class football club with some top class players," he added.

"They’ve been together for a long time and have reached The Final four times in the last seven years.

"They have a lot of experience, whereas we’ve been the fledglings and have enjoyed it."

The second leg takes place on Monday 5 May, kicking-off at 7.45pm and will be shown live on ITV4.

By Nicholas Veevers Content Manager - FA Owned Channels