January 9th 2025.
Tyler Young, son of veteran player Ashley Young, found himself on the bench during Peterborough's 2-0 defeat against Everton. Manager Darren Ferguson shared that one of the Everton players had a go at him for not bringing Tyler onto the field during the game. The highly-anticipated match between father and son had been making headlines leading up to the FA Cup third-round tie.
Ferguson had previously given Tyler his first-team debut in a League One match against Stevenage earlier in the season. Despite the 18-year-old being named among the substitutes for the game against Everton, he was left on the bench as his father, aged 39, was brought on in the 73rd minute. This set the stage for a historic moment, as never before had a father and son played against each other in the competition.
However, with Peterborough trailing and desperately searching for an equaliser, Ferguson chose not to give in to sentimentalism and kept Tyler seated as the minutes ticked by. He instead made five substitutions, bringing on Oscar Wallin, Malik Mothersille, Ryan de Havilland, Abraham Odoh, and Gustav Lindgren, before Everton's Iliman Ndiaye sealed the hosts' victory with a penalty in added time.
Ferguson has since faced criticism on social media for not giving Tyler a chance to play, with many fans disappointed by what they saw as the manager's lack of heart. When asked at the press conference after the game if it was difficult to leave Tyler on the bench, Ferguson admitted that it was a tough decision but he had to do what was best for the team. He explained that if the score had been 2-0 at the time, he would have brought Tyler on, but with the game still at 1-0, he needed to make substitutions to try and secure a result.
The Toffees, led by veteran players Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, had dismissed their manager Sean Dyche just hours before the match. When questioned about the incident with the Everton player who confronted him, Ferguson revealed that it was a small issue but still unacceptable. He reiterated that his priority was to do what was best for the team, regardless of the father-son dynamic between Tyler and Ashley Young.
Despite the outcome, Ferguson was proud of his team's performance and felt that Beto's goal just before half-time had been the turning point in the game. He praised his players for giving their all and felt that they had done themselves justice on the field. As for facing a club that had just parted ways with their manager, Ferguson admitted that it was an unusual situation and expressed his surprise and disappointment at Dyche's departure.
In the end, Peterborough may have lost the game, but they did not go down without a fight. Ferguson and his team were disappointed to be out of the cup, but they had given Everton a run for their money and proved that they were not just there for a night out. It was a bittersweet moment for the manager, who had to make tough decisions and face unexpected challenges, but he was proud of his team's performance and believed they had acquitted themselves well.
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