'You couldn't ask for a better start' - Dawson's verdict on Stoke win | OneFootball

Newcastle United Under-21s Lead Coach Ben Dawson was delighted with his side's "great start" against nine-man Stoke City following a 2-1 away win in the Premier League 2 on Friday.

United's second-string netted twice in succession within the opening 11 minutes at the bet365 Stadium courtesy of quick-fire strikes from Dylan Stephenson and Kyle Crossley, a late inclusion in the starting XI following Jay Turner-Cooke's illness in the warm-up, before Jack Griffith's close-range finish halved the deficit for the hosts.

Stoke were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time as Potters goalkeeper Tommy Simkin received a straight red card, bringing down Stephenson on the edge of the box before City skipper Jaden Dixon was dismissed in the second-half for an off-the-ball incident with the Blyth-born striker before United's youngsters saw out the game to record maximum points in Staffordshire.

Dawson told newcastleunited.com: 'We made a great start to the game, coming out of the blocks firing and got ourselves ahead. You couldn't ask for a better start.

'As much as we had to make a late change in the starting line-up, we had a front three who are really quick, can be aggressive and press high and that led to the first two goals.

'The break in play (following Jamie Miley's injury) slowed everything down a bit and we found it a little bit tough for a period to get going again. They scored to get themselves back into the game but the red cards are always a help and it was then about managing the game and trying to take our opportunities when they came.

'We expected to have a lot of the ball to begin with, even with 11 against 11, and it was even a bigger importance on the lockdown behind the ball and making sure we didn't give them any silly opportunities to break and get themselves back into the game.

'We did that quite well in the second half and, one thing we've stressed is for all the good work they've done tonight, we have to learn to deal with the expectations and pressure of when you are playing against ten or nine men to kill the game off after creating some good chances we didn't take.

'In terms of managing the game and keeping Stoke at arms' length, I thought we did that very well in the second half to see the game out.'

Stephenson, who joined South Shields on loan in January before recently returning from his stint with the National League North outfit, played a key contribution towards the young Magpies' second league away win of the 2023/24 campaign and Dawson highlighted the significance of the 21-year-old striker's spell in senior football of late.

Dawson added: 'When lads go out on their first loan, they come back more mature. Dylan's been around a group of men who are playing for three points and that's all that matters.

'Dylan's been vocal, always leading by example in terms of his work-rate and you can see him now speaking to some of the younger players and helping them through the game which he used to get when we had other lads out on loan.'

Newcastle's youngsters conclude their Premier League 2 campaign on Monday, 29th April when hosting Aston Villa at St. James' Park, with Dawson hopeful his side can end a challenging season in positive fashion

'The challenge now is to put back-to-back wins for the first time this season,' he said. 'It's always difficult at under-21 level when your squad and team changes from game to game. I don't think we have had an opportunity to play the same eleven at all this season through lads getting chances with the first-team and injuries.

'It all stifles your rhythm and flow but we have had opportunities to win back-to-back this year which we haven't taken so Monday gives us that chance, at St. James' Park, to go and do that.'