Boss Mick McCarthy felt Town’s U18s were unfortunate to exit the FA Youth Cup at the third round stage after losing 4-2 on penalties to Sunderland after the game had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
The Blues manager watched the game and was impressed: "I thought they played very well. Sunderland came down much-fancied and I thought, to be honest, that we were the better team.
"It went to penalties and I’m not so sure too many of them had enough energy to hit the penalties when they came round.
"One of the games in the same competition ended 6-1 after extra-time and I think the same could have happened last night if one of the teams had conceded in the first minute of extra-time. They were all goosed, all completely knackered.
"It really was a strength-sapping 90 minutes plus another 30. I thought they were great, I thought both teams really went at it. I was delighted. It was a great game to watch, sad we lost on penalties but it was a really good game to watch.”
Jack Willbye’s 45-yard strike for the Blues was the game’s highlight, although McCarthy thought Sunderland would have been pointing fingers at their keeper Maks Stryjek.
"I think they might have been looking at the goalkeeper thinking he might have done better with that one," he said. "But it livened him up because he played well after that, their goalkeeper.
"But it was an amazing goal. Maybe we should have taken the penalties from the halfway line.”