Heading into our FA Youth Cup third round encounter with Sheffield Wednesday, Theo Chapman insists that he and his teammates trust their own abilities to secure a positive result.
The two sides met at the end of October and played out a 0-0 draw at the Oakwell Training Ground, but the young Reds are in fine fettle with three consecutive victories.
“We are quite confident,” stated Chapman. “We’ve played them in the past and it wasn’t the result that we wanted, but we’re flying in the league.
“We’re top of the league, and we know what type of group we are; we know were capable of good things, so we’re just taking this opportunity as it comes and hopefully, we get the win.”
This vibrant crop of players are the Professional Development League’s great entertainers, finding the back of the net 24 times in nine games.
Add to that the 15 goals in four cup fixtures, it’s easy to see where our U18s’ strengths lie.
“There’s me and Raf scoring a lot of goals from midfield, then we’ve got Fab and Josiah up front and we’ve even got goals from wing-back – Mylan’s got goals and Alex has been scoring quite a few goals,” discussed Chapman.
“So, yeah, goals from everywhere, really. It’s very attacking, and we work hard as a group; we get back in our shape and defend, but goals win us games at the end of the day.”
South Yorkshire derbies are always special affairs, no matter what age group the fixture is contested at.
Having come through the ranks at Oakwell as a youngster, Chapman knows all too well the rivalry and admits he is familiar with some of his peers in the Owls’ camp.
“Whether it’s Sheffield United or Sheffield Wednesday – any of the Yorkshire teams – we’re up for the game,” asserted the 17-year-old. “We get a talk before to say how important it is and the background of the club.
“We all know as a group how big the rivalry is. I’ve played against three or four of them a lot since the age of eight or nine here at Barnsley.
“I know a few of them, personally, as well; they’re good lads, but at the end of the day we’re there to win the game.”
It has been a big week, personally, for Chapman, who was involved in a senior matchday squad for the first time and made his professional debut against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
The young midfielder was introduced with five minutes remaining of our Emirates FA Cup second round tie at Oakwell and put in a typically composed performance for Michael Duff.
“It was a very good experience,” he smiled. “I was very grateful to come on, obviously the scoreline was 3-0, so I thought there was always a chance.
“I got the opportunity, and I thought I did alright when I came on. I wanted to get a touch, make sure I completed my pass and move on from there.”
