‘Ashley Young and Everton to blame for historic Peteborough controversy’
Ashley Young should only be focusing his frustration at his Everton teammates after being left disappointed during his side’s FA Cup clash with Peterborough United.
Going into the third round meeting between the two teams on Thursday night (9 January) the full-back knew he had the chance to make history.
While the 39-year-old was named on the bench for the Toffees for that match, his son Tyler was included among the substitutes for Peterborough.
Had they both got on the pitch, it would have been the first time a father and son had played against each other in the competition.
Ultimately though things did not work out that way, and it seems that Young senior should only be pointing the finger at his fellow Everton players for that.
Ashley Young FA Cup disappointment is down to Everton teammates
While the 39-year-old did come off the bench for the Toffees with 17 minutes of the game remaining, with his side leading 1-0, Tyler remained an unused substitute throughout the match.
Having missed the opportunity for such an historic moment, the Everton man did not hold back when he took to social media after the game, writing simply: “GUTTED”.
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has come in for scathing criticism for spoiling possible history.
In the end though Young can surely only ask questions of his own teammates as to why he missed out on the chance to share the pitch with his son.
When Ferguson made his final substitution of the game in the 88th minute, his side were still only 1-0 down.
After the game, Ferguson suggested that had his team been trailing to Everton by more than a single goal, then he would have given Tyler Young the chance to come off the bench (BBC).
It is a fair approach for the Posh manager to take. With his side only a goal down, they still had a chance to turn the game around and secure a win that everyone connected with his side wanted.
Of course, that could also have opened the door to another high-profile clash in the next round of the competition, which could have brought in a vital financial windfall for his side.
With that in mind, using a stronger option than Tyler Young – who has played just 27 minutes in the EFL Trophy in his senior career so far – was the right thing for Ferguson to do for the good of his club.
Indeed, even amid the struggles they have had in front of goal this season, and the shock of the sacking of Sean Dyche just hours before kick-off, Everton will feel they should have been out of sight earlier.
As a Premier League club up against a side struggling two divisions below them – Peterborough are currently 19th in League One – this was a chance for them to rediscover some form in front of goal.
Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines take FA Cup tie
In turn, that would have given both Youngs the chance to get on the pitch at the same time, with the game done as a contest and a chance for sentimentality to take over.
As it was, Everton needed a 98th minute Iliman Ndiaye to make it 2-0 and seal the win, by which point the chance for another Peterborough change to bring on Young was over.
Taking all that into consideration, as Ashley Young reflects on what might have been here, his big frustration must surely be over the fact that he and his teammates could not get more goals sooner as they ought to have in the circumstances, to allow for emotional moments such as the one he wanted.
In other news, a fresh update on whether Everton will punish Neal Maupay has emerged.
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