The Magpies coach spoke after his side lost 3-0 to Aston Villa in the Premier League 2.
Newcastle United’s Under-23s fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat at the hands of their Aston Villa counterparts in Monday night’s Premier League 2 fixture at Whitley Park.
The young Magpies were eager for a positive result after being knocked out of the Northumberland Senior Cup to Morpeth Town last time out (Chronicle Live), but it wasn’t to be.
Despite Villa fielding a young side with five academy players, they looked sharp and dangerous from the off, and went on to draw first blood in the 16th minute.
Tyriek Wright’s corner from the left side wasn’t defended well enough and Harvey Knibbs was able to get his head on the ball and force it over the Newcastle goal line.
In first-half injury time, 17-year-old Wright notched up another assists, crossing into the box from the right and finding Lewis Brunt, who scrambled the ball into the net from close range.
Newcastle failed to muster much of a response and Villa added a cherry on top when, late on in the game, Kelsey Mooney rounded goalkeeper Nathan Harker and slotted home.
The result sees Newcastle drop to fifth as Kevin MacDonald’s side leapfrogs them into fourth, and coach Ben Dawson suggested his charges are currently low on confidence.
“We’re looking at how to instill more confidence back in the group other than looking at past results,” he told the Chronicle Live.
“Our lads knew the importance of the game and started to panic a bit. We forgot about the things we have been doing in training. We have another important game on Friday and we have to regroup.”
On Friday, Newcastle travel to Woking for a Premier League Cup last 16 tie against Reading.
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