At the halfway stage of the Premier League Cup, the AFC Bournemouth development squad sits in second place of Group B.
Saturday’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion saw the Seagulls leapfrog Cherries into pole position but qualification for the knockout rounds remains a very real possibility.
For goalkeeper Cameron Plain, while he has his eyes fixed on winning every game, he is revelling in testing himself against higher category academy sides.
He told afcb.co.uk after defeat to Brighton: “We want to win every game and we’d love to be on nine points sitting top of the group, but we have to be realistic.
“We’re a category three academy and we’re doing well playing against category two and category one sides.
“We’re just trying to do the best we can and we’re always looking to continue to push on.”
Not only did the visit of Brighton provide a test for the development squad players, but also first and second-year under-18s scholars.
With six getting minutes under their belts and seven in total in the matchday squad, Plain heaped praise on the youngsters.
“We had six under-18s playing and it was the perfect opportunity for them to come and step up,” he said.
“I can’t fault any of their work rate or effort throughout the whole game out there today, it just didn’t go our way in the end.
“These are the moments, behind the first team, that’s a big milestone in any young player’s career.
“I thought the young ones that stepped up, even though we lost, they all did really well.”
With a string of fine saves to his name, Plain ended his afternoon’s work by being named the Cherries’ Man of the Match.
On the personal accolade, he said: “Individually, that’s what you look for. You want to make saves, but I think possibly I should do better with the first one.
“I’m happy to contribute how I can and keep a scoreline where we’ve got a chance and we can, hopefully, get back into it.”
The development squad is next in Premier League Cup action against Derby County on Monday 12th December at the Loughborough University Stadium (7pm kick-off).
