EDS skipper Simpson-Pusey sounds Newcastle rally-cry | OneFootball

Skipper Jahmai Simpson-Pusey says City’s Elite Development Squad are determined to end the initial Premier League 2 league programme on a high.

Ben Wilkinson’s squad round off the 20-game league season on Monday with a key home clash against Newcastle United, kick-off 19.00pm (UK).

With one game to go before the PL2 knockout stages begin, the City Under-21s lead second-placed Fulham by two points at the top of the table, which means the mathematics going into Monday’s finale are simple.

If City win, irrespective of what Fulham do in their last game away at Brighton that same night, we are guaranteed to finish in top spot – and with it the prize of enjoying home advantage throughout the knockout stages.

With Wilkinson’s squad also bosting a vastly superior goal difference of plus 34 to Fulham’s plus 18, even a draw should be enough to confirm first place - barring something extraordinary.

For his part though, the skipper is keen for the side to round off what has been a superb league campaign in winning fashion.

“We just need to stay in high spirits and just go and get the win on Monday,” Simpson-Pusey declared.

“It would mean a lot if we got top spot. I was captain when we won the FA Youth Cup [last season] but not for a full season.

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“I feel like now I've been captain for kind of three quarters of this season, so It would mean a lot for us to go and win and if we could get to the final and then hopefully go on to win that.”

Reflecting on what was a tense and dramatic clash with Fulham on Monday, Simpson-Pusey also paid tribute to the side’s steadfast belief and composure.

Having fallen behind to a 90th minute goal, the City youngsters dug deep to summon up a remarkable late fightback capped by Divin Mubama’s 96th minute leveller which kept the Under-21s in top spot.

“I feel like as a captain, I’ve just to keep on going and try to keep everyone around me positive,” Simpson-Pusey added.

“It turned out that we managed to get the ball back [and got the goal]. We just stayed calm even though there was a lot of pressure so big salute to the team.

“In terms of what we went through as a team [in the game], I'd say the defensive work was how we expected.

“But they didn't really attack how we thought they would, instead it was one to get used to during the game.”