Boss Roy Keane had praise for his senior players as a largely young Town team beat League One Exeter 3-2 in the Carling Cup after extra-time. The Town manager was also pleased with his youngsters, particularly 18-year-old debut goalscorer Ronan Murray.

Keane said: “It was most important tonight that the senior players led the way and I thought they were all outstanding - Murphy, Stead, Chuck Norris, Grant, Colin Healy.

“Steady was outstanding up front, literally on his own during extra-time and was unlucky not to have scored himself, but he was involved in a couple of the goals.

“Colin Healy’s still getting up to fitness and he’s had to play 120 minutes. I’ll probably give him tomorrow off!

“So, I was delighted with the senior players in the squad, who represented the club well tonight and the young fellas would obviously follow them.”

The Blues boss says the two teams came out of the game with a lot of credit, although neither manager will be happy with the extra-time: “It was a good game, it was a battle out there. I think both teams would have been disappointed to have gone to extra-time, I don't think the players needed it, particularly with our problems at the moment.

“We’re glad to win the game and the players showed good character. There were a lot of young players out there. Credit to both teams, the fitness levels were outstanding tonight. We were all tired watching, let alone playing 120 minutes.

“They’ll feel they might have deserved penalties, but I still think we had one or two good chances. I thought Exeter were very, very good, but we knew that anyway as we’d watched them.”

Keane says Town probably should have been awarded a penalty close to the end of normal time when Ronan Murray was fouled, an incident not dissimilar to one at Middlesbrough on Saturday: “We had one them at the weekend as well! They say these things even themselves out and please God that they do.

"I might have had a different attitude to it if we’d lost the game, but we said the same against Middlesbrough where David Norris was fouled clearly inside the box, but listen, referees are human and they make mistakes like the rest of us.”

Of the many young players on show Republic of Ireland U19 international frontman Murray made the biggest impact, scoring one and helping create two. Keane says the goal came as no surprise to him: “He’s a good player, a good striker and, in terms of all the players at the football club, he’s probably the most natural finisher we have. He got on tonight and we’re delighted with him.

“It wasn’t really a chance, but that’s what good strikers do. He scored at the weekend for the reserves and he can sniff out a chance.

“He’s got a chance certainly of being in the squad for Saturday, obviously it’s a bit much for him to start a game.

“We’ll see how Tamás is when he gets back, how Jon Walters is, see how Steady recovers. As I keep saying, it changes by the hour, so it’s too early for me to confirm who might or might not be involved on Saturday.”

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale was pleased with his side’s display but was disappointed to lose: “I think as a manager you’re looking for the performance but in a couple of days you look back at the result.

“I can be quite buoyant about the way we played and increasingly so, but we lost the game and you don’t want to be an optimistic loser all the time.

“It was a disappointing result really because I think we played really well, created chances and gave our share.

“It was a really good game of football. It was a game of counter-attack in the first half, it was the team that was going break quickly and score on the counter that looked like the side that was going to win the game.

“I’m pleased with the way we played, it was great entertainment for the supporters and a good night at St James’ Park. We went a long way with a very, very good Championship side, so I’m not too disappointed.”

After the match, Exeter announced that their striker Adam Stansfield has died of bowel cancer at the age of 31.

Photo: Action Images

TractorRoyNo1 added 02:25 - Aug 11 Long drive home, but it was worth it to see the boys win again. Impressed with the work that Stead put in.
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steed added 02:27 - Aug 11 Well done town youngsters on a good performance tonight. And rip Adam my heart goes out to exeter and his family no age at all to lose some one.
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brockleyblueboy added 02:33 - Aug 11 Well done fellas. Cup games are never easy,especially with a long journey and young side. This will do the teams confidence no harm. Bottom line winning breeds winning. As long as the young lads keep their feet on the ground and with the help of the senior players to do that, I see no reason why we can't field a similar team against Burnley and get a result. Once again, well done, rest easy and bring on Burnley :-) COYB

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darkroonsitfc added 02:33 - Aug 11 RIP ADAM STANSFIELD, but nice too se the young guns getting another chance alongside some of the more establisehed senior players, it can only work in the teams favour for the future and maybe this season, the youngsters will mix with the first team and build better connections the more they play
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Hermann_eats_puffin added 07:10 - Aug 11 Congratulations to the entire squad tonight on a well deserved victory, despite the refs best attempts to work against us with some dodgy decisions. Having to go to extra time & the additional injuries picked up are incredibly frustrating however winning is a habit and long may it continue. It sounds like there were some great performances right across the pitch from a very young team & well done to Norris as captain for leading by example and bagging a brace of goals. Also plaudits have to be given to Murray for a debut goal & his involvement in the other goals. I'm really proud of our clubs record of bringing through young talent & some of the great Town teams of the past under Robson & Burley have been built around a nucleus of home grown talent. It is great to see the faith being shown in the youngsters at the moment & I genuinely believe that Keane is taking us in the right direction. This season in what will no doubt be another unpredictable roller coaster Championship year will bring it's ups as well as downs. We need to show patience and have faith that a good foundation is being laid for the future of our club. It did not take just a season or two for Sir Bobby, Burley or even Ferguson at Man Utd to build the teams they wanted & gain success. Long term continuity at a club can be a positive thing and if we passionately support the team & manager through thick & thin this season I do believe that we can look ahead to a bright future. Rome wasn't built in a day and so we have to be realistic & not lurch into fits of depression when we suffer our first defeat, which as with all clubs will inevitably happen at some point. Lets all get behind the team & the manager & give our all as supporters through both the good & bad days this season. Well done to the team for this result & COYB for the rest of the season! Lastly the news about Adam Stansfield is very sad & our thoughts are with his family & friends.

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OsborneOneNil added 07:43 - Aug 11 Spot on Keano.
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brockleyblueboy added 08:14 - Aug 11 Well said Herman Eats Puffin. That is one of the best posts on here for a while. I wish all supporters shared your views :-) Bring on Burnley
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bluelady added 08:28 - Aug 11 Fantastic result, i have seen Murray play for the youth team a great deal and always thought he'd be a very good first team striker, very high work rate. Surely surely after the comments above Keane will keep hold of Stead? He shows excellent commitment to the club and even when he is being pushed to take a move he doesnt want he turns up and gives his all for us, that to me is a true professional and as the 'Beat' said last night, Stead is someone every manager loves to have, a nice guy, a good player and a fantastic attitude!

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bluelady added 08:34 - Aug 11 no mention of Jamie Peters, thought him coming on made a big differance to us we started looking far more dangerous on the attack - or is he too young to qualify as a senior player !!!!
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Barhamblue added 08:35 - Aug 11 Hermann_eats_puffin - Top post. Totally agree 100% Thoughts go out to the family of Adam Stansfield . RIP
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budgieplucker added 09:15 - Aug 11 These away cup matches at the beginning of the season against lower league sides can be horrible. So great credit to the boys for coming through with a result. As has been mentioned winning is a good habit. Norris as captain and scoring a brace is great news and Keano seems to be getting a response from his senior players. What would a Counago, Martin or Lisbie offered us in a game like this? It certainly looks like we are starting to move in the right direction. Hyam getting accolades again, sounds like gutsy performances from OConnor, Eastman and Brown (whilst he was on). Also sounds like Tommy Smith came on and filled in with great assurance. And of course a valuable contribution from pint sized Ronan Murray. I am not getting carried away yet on a wave of optimism and we need to take each week as it comes for the next couple of months before making a realistic judgement on our credentials for a top six place. However I do feel keano is restoring some pride in wearing the ITFC shirt and whilst forced by injuries to play youngsters this could be a blessing in disguise for us in terms of fast tracking some youngsters and assessing their capabilities as well as developing a bond and spirit and a sense that the day of the overpaid underperforming prima donnas could well be a thing of the past at Portman Road. Yes we will have set backs but a feeling that these are our lads and not mercenaries should also be an opportunity to galvanise the supporters and sweep away some of the negativity that has swept through the club in recent months.

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DrJeckyll added 11:01 - Aug 11 What a confidence boost, lots of youngsters in the side and still got a result. Imagine a front line with Connor and Ronan :-)
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bluelady added 11:39 - Aug 11 DrJeckyll thats not such a bad idea at some point in future they both know each other so well from youth team etc. big guy little guy partnership Connor with his hold up play and Ronan a clear poacher..... any news on a new striker?
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Fatboy added 12:01 - Aug 11 That's 2 games running we have won after going a goal down. Hopefully a sign of a bit of "character" in the squad. Good to see the youngsters doing well and also good to see Lee Martin getting on the scoresheet for Charlton last night.
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bluewein added 13:13 - Aug 11 Spot on fatboy, last year we would have wilted and been destroyed after going behind. Maybe somethings clicked?!
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Fatboy added 13:17 - Aug 11 “He's a good player, a good striker and, in terms of all the players at the football club, he's probably the most natural finisher we have. He got on tonight and we're delighted with him.” Didn't Keane say something similar about Jordan Rhodes just before he was sold? Good to see that Keane seems to be giving the young players a chance now. Hopefully we'll see Murray in the first team proper before long.

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Surco72 added 13:25 - Aug 11 Brockleyblue and herman eats puffin ... agree totally with with your optimism for playing the youngsters and a few really look the part Hyam and Murray but if we fielded this side against Burnley on saturday we would lose by a country mile ,in fairness we played a poor Exeter side and they pushed us all the way and scored 2 goals and were better for the first half and large sections of the second until we brought on Peters and Smith. Not taking anything away from the performance or the win or trying to sound negative because i am delighted with our start to the season but Ainsley ,Brown,Eastman ,Lambe,Healy and to a point even Murphy are not upto the championship standard and due to injuries ,internationals that is all we had to play which is why Keano is worried and will bring in upto 4 players this week i believe

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bluelady added 15:31 - Aug 11 Sucro72 its funny because i was thinking last night if we can do that with the kids then we can really give Burnley a good game sat with our full team, then i tried to think who are full team are and with all the injuries it isnt far off what we saw last night! ok add Prisken (if no injury tonight) Fulop (ditto Prisken and actually Murphy was our no 1 so hardly a poor substitute) Walters (if said Virus is gone) and that is pretty much it......... we desperately need to add so all this talk of swaping Stead seems crazy, i know we had to free up wages but surely that is done now with the Wrights going, Garvan, at least part of Martins salary etc etc etc ok when sidelined players are back it looks better but any injury and we are back to the bare bones.. Still think getting rid of David Wright is coming back to haunt us, he can fill in for any of the back four and the asset is priceless even if he doesnt set the world alight.

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jas0999 added 17:50 - Aug 11 Very sad news about Adam Stansfield.
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otleyblue added 19:30 - Aug 11 Reading about Adam Stansfield he give 100% from playing sunday football right thou to playing for exeter RIP
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stevieiriswattii added 19:53 - Aug 11 A great performance last night, nobody let the team down. Incredible to see all the youngsters playing. The back four all played well, O'connor worked his socks off, Eastman looked good, Troy B looked impressive & strong, & Ainsley, after a nervy start made some telling last gasp interceptions. A slightly more experienced midfield, were solid, with Chuck being the stand out performance, including one scything tackle! Stead, had a few heavy touches, but gave everything for 120 mins & deserved a goal. Living in Devon, this was a local game for me & rare chance to see the Town live, so a big up for all the fans who travelled from Suffolk on a midweek Carling cup game. Credit to Exeter for the way they played the game, not much long ball & good attitude. & finally my first encounter with Section 6, keep it up lads!

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