Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar has been urged to stay confident and use his mistake against Doncaster on Tuesday night as a learning curve.
The teenager has been solid for Neil Wood's Under-23 side this season and made three good saves in the opening 20 minutes at the Keepmoat Stadium to keep United in the game.
But an uncharacteristic mistake from the goalkeeper gave the hosts the lead in the second half as he palmed Alfie May's shot into the back of his own net.
Goals from Ethan Galbraith and mistake didn't matter and Wood was quick to praise the 19-year-old after the game.
"He’s really hard on himself, he’s an ultimate professional who doesn’t like making mistakes which not many keepers do," Wood told MEN Sport. "But the amount of times he’s kept us in games, and he’s so calm from the back playing out and he can pick passes short and long. Keepers do make mistakes but he’s just going to learn from that, stay confident and move forward."
Teammate Di'Shon Bernard was also full of praise for the teenage goalkeeper.
"We can’t be disappointed with him because in the first 20 minutes he’s pulled out three good saves to keep us in the game," he said. "So even though he’s made a mistake he’s basically won us the game as well."
The win against the League One side ensured United made it through to the knockout rounds of the competition but it was a tough test for a young United side who were pushed for the opening 25 minutes of the game.
"It was a massive test and we just spoke then about the next game we can’t afford to take that 25 minute hit and try and survive. We need to start the game like we finished the game," Wood said.
"That’s the challenge for us and the learning curve where we have to improve. It’s always going to be tough, they’re playing against some players who are in and around the first team. So we know it will be tough but that’s a challenge for the next game."
