The Academy Showcase put MK Dons to the test against a strong West Bromwich Albion side

The young players in the MK Dons academy will take a lot of learning experiences from their 4-2 defeat to West Brom academy in the annual Academy Showcase at Stadium MK.

Despite taking the lead inside a minute courtesy of a Josh O’Keefe screamer, the Baggies hit back within two minutes, with Joel Asomugha finding the net to level things up.

Centre back Jack Burke powered home a header for Dons on 16 minutes to restore their lead before the back-and-forth game saw West Brom equalise again two minutes later through Archie Williams, before then taking the lead when Danny Iqbal fired home just before the half-hour mark.

Midway through the second-half, the visitors made sure of their advantage, netting their fourth when Cyril Lartey struck home to get their hands on the trophy.

“I enjoyed seeing the group suffer a little bit,” said professional development phase lead coach Ronayne Marsh-Brown. “I liked to see them having to make correct decisions and choices. I enjoyed the physicality too. We were a lot younger, no excuses, but I enjoyed the test from a development point of view.

“We had spells of good football, we had spells looking connected, trying to showcase our best selves and I hope the boys take some really good lessons from this. We’re a unique club, the way we give opportunity to players of a young age, so this is just the first step for a lot of them.”

For most of the players on the pitch, it was their first opportunity to play at Stadium MK, and their first real insight into what life could be like should they make it to the first-team at MK1.

Marsh-Brown, the brother of former MK Dons loanee Keanu, said the experience the youngsters were given is an important one in their footballing careers, but also one to be enjoyed.

He said: “I might think too deeply about it at times, but these boys are going through their GCSEs, going through school and growing up.

“We’re privileged to get these opportunities, and we told them to go out there and be their best selves. The one non-negotiable was to work hard and they were a credit to the club.

“There is still work to do, still loads of steps to climb but it’s our job to help them on their journey.

“For the coaches now, we’ll look at the season, analyse it, break things down for individuals and see how we can push them on next season. For the boys, we want them to relax, reflect and come back hungry with new energy.”