All change at Academy level means kids hit reset button

CITY'S summer business that brought in over £50m of Academy sales has had a knock-on effect to the current under-21's progress in the EFL Trophy.

- JOE BRAY

City's youngsters fell to a frustrating 3-0 defeat at Bradford on Tuesday to exit the competition that pits academy sides against EFL opposition at the group stages.

It is the third year in a row that City have failed to reach the knockout stages. But head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says the current group of academy players should not be forward's hat-trick goal com- the players will learn is actually experiencing that.  judged against previous years as they are an almost completely different squad.

Over the summer, City saw most of their title-winning players from the academy leave on permanent or loan deals, leaving a new cohort of players experiencing their first season with the under-21s.

Despite another disappointing EFL Trophy campaign, Barry-Murphy was looking to the positives - particularly for his defenders who conceded two identical goals to wily striker Tyler Smith - with the forward's hat-trick goal coming from a corner won after another direct ball down the middle to set him free.