"Move the ball, move it now," was the shout from Manchester United's U21s manager Mark Dempsey on the touchline at Moss Lane on Wednesday night. Sparta Prague's defensive line was in formation and the youngsters were carefully trying to unlock it.
United's U21s won their first Premier League 2 match of the season at the weekend against Wolves and they were looking for back-to-back victories against Sparta Prague in the International Cup, which is a competition that gives English academy sides the opportunity to play European opposition. It represents a different challenge for young talent and that was apparent ahead of kick-off.
Sparta Prague's youngsters were in the tunnel preparing with foam rollers for the match and it quickly became clear they were bound to be a physical test when they emerged to warm up under the floodlights, as the stature of their players was noticeable.
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The Czech youngsters also emerged 15 minutes earlier than United to warm up, although it was the Reds that actually imposed themselves in the opening stages of the contest after kick-off, leaving Sparta Prague to think their preparation was for nothing.
Noam Emeran made his return to the U21 side on Wednesday after a spell on the sidelines and he couldn't have made a better impact upon his comeback. as he was rewarded for his diligent pressing in the 10th minute when winning a penalty for United.
Charlie McNeill gathered the ball and walked to the spot, with the few hundred at non-league's Altrincham Moss Lane waiting in anticipation, but that pocket of supporters groaned moments later when the penalty was saved by Filip Nalezinek.
McNeill is a prolific goalscorer at this level but all good centre-forwards can buckle from 12 yards. McNeill was desperate to atone from that moment and he was benefitting from the initiative of Emera and Omari Forson on the wings.
Both players were regularly swapping sides and Forson looked excellent again. Forson has four goals this season, making him the U21s' second top goalscorer with McNeill, and he looked the most likely to create something in the first half against Sparta Prague.
In midfield, it was Tom Huddlestone, who was playing deep, captain Dan Gore and Isak Hansen-Aareon that were supplying Emeran and Forson with the passes to break forward. Gore played a few outstanding crossfield passes before the break and he looked like a player worthy of the armband. He starred in the FA Youth Cup triumph last season and he's improving in this campaign
There has also been improvement in Sam Murray, who struggled in the semi-final of the Youth Cup last term against Wolves. The opposition targeted Murray that night, but the left-back has progressed and that showed against Sparta Prague.
Murray was defensively excellent, alongside the aggressive Bjorn Hardley, who impressed again, and he provided some quality to the attacks. Murray played a delightful ball from the left toward the end of the first half and Emeran could not connect.
Although Murray has improved, he could not do much about the winding run from Filip Silhrat ahead of half-time, who came close to breaking the deadlock. Hardley watched on and Tyler Fredricson was beaten, but the danger was eventually cleared.
The game was goalless at the break, but that wasn't for a lack of effort. United were technically excellent, they just lacked quality in the final third and that is the theme of the season. Shola Shoretire and Marc Jurado then came on for the second half.
After failing to score for weeks, Shoretire has scored five in October and Jurado also scored the winner against Wolves at the weekend. They were two positive changes from Dempsey and Kobbie Mainoo was also introduced at the hour mark.
Shoretire and Jurado replaced Emeran and Teden Mengi, while Mainoo replaced McNeill, who looked disappointed to come off. United's youngsters marvel at Cristiano Ronaldo in training but there was no outburst from McNeill when leaving the pitch. Ronaldo threw his coat on the floor after being substituted against Brentford last season and that was not a good example.
After the changes, Sparta Prague fashioned two excellent chances but they failed to find a way past United's Ondrej Mastny. Dempsey gave a thumbs-up to the goalkeeper earlier in the game for a save and he was notably comfortable with his feet, which is promising.
With the game goalless with 20 minutes to play, Shoretire almost scored his sixth of the month but his shot was saved from close range. Dempsey shouted words of encouragement from the touchline again and the youngsters got back into position.
Mainoo then burst into life and fashioned an opportunity from nothing. His shot was fired just over the bar and it seemed like it wasn't meant to be. Mainoo only played 25 minutes against Sparta Prague but the 'crowd' got excited with his every touch.
It was a counter-attack from Sparta Prague that followed and Hardley and Fredricson thwarted the danger before celebrating the clearance with each other. Their defensive displays were laudable against physical opposition.
Darren Fletcher and deputy technical director Andy O'Boyle were in the stands again and they will talk to Ten Hag about what they watched. Forson would have certainly caught their eye and he is earning the chances he gets at first-team training.
United searched for a goal until the final whistle, but they could not break the deadlock, with the match finishing 0-0. It was a point earned in the opening group stage of the International Cup and fixtures against Monaco, PSV and Feyenoord now await.
XI | Mastny, Murray, Fredricson, Mengi, Hardley, Gore, Huddlestone, Forson, Hanson-Aaroen, Emeran, McNeill.
SUBS | Wooster, Jurado, Bennett, Savage, Norkett, Shoretire, Mainoo.
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