Everton U21s boss Paul Tait pleased with reaction after 'shock to system' in EFL Trophy loss

Everton Under-21s manager Paul Tait believes his youngsters showcased their potential to first-team boss Sean Dyche despite suffering a “shock to the system” in their 2-0 EFL Trophy defeat at Burton Albion.

The night before his senior side went to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, Dyche and his assistant manager Ian Woan were both in the stands at the Pirelli Stadium to watch the Blues second string take on League One opponents. Tait told the ECHO: “It’s excellent that Sean Dyche was here. It’s great for the lads for the first-team staff to come and watch.

“Even though we’ve lost the game, there are players who have done themselves a world of good in front of the gaffer and the first team staff.”

Everton, who were also beaten 2-0 at League Two Doncaster Rovers in their opening Northern Section Group H fixture a week earlier, found themselves a goal down after just eight minutes and 2-0 behind after 20 minutes. Tait admits the youngsters struggled to match up to the type of challenge their opponents presented them with in the early stages.

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He said: “We just got caught out. It was like a shock to the system and it’s difficult because they don’t come up against that football so it’s hard to get them ready. You can do all the analysis, you can show them all the clips of Burton and the way they play and the intensity that they play at but until you’re actually on the field, matched up in those one v one duels, you don’t find out.

“I think a couple of our lads were finding out quickly what it was about in terms of the intensity, the physicality and aggression and