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Topics: FA Cup, Ashley Young, Everton, League One
Jack Kenmare
Topics: FA Cup, Ashley Young, Everton, League One
An Everton player confronted Darren Ferguson at the full-time whistle of Thursday's FA Cup tie after the Peterborough manager decided against bringing on Tyler Young, the teenage son of Ashley Young.
In the build-up to this week's game at Goodison Park, there was plenty of talk around a moment that would have marked the first father-and-son pair to come up against each other in the FA Cup's 143-year history.
Two months ago, the idea of coming up against his son in a professional match was merely a pipedream for Ashley Young, who opened up on his "dream" to play against his son in October.
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"I’m hoping and praying that it could be in the next couple of years," he told talkSPORT. "To play alongside him or play against him would be unbelievable."
He added: "Obviously to play alongside my son would be a dream come true. You see LeBron [James, with his son Bronny] in basketball. I’ve done my homework, it hasn't been done since 1980 I think, which is obviously a long time ago."
A few weeks later, Everton and Peterborough were pitted against each other in the third round of this year's FA Cup and the former England international was excited, to say the least.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson appeared to hint towards a possible appearance for Tyler, who penned a one-year deal at Peterborough following a brief trial period in the summer.
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"I don't think it's ever happened," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. "Ash has put me under a bit of pressure there. I'll have to find a way of getting Tyler involved."
Ferguson added: "It's a great story; let's deal with that when it comes around. Ash is still playing, he's had a fantastic career and now Tyler is just starting his. These are the kind of stories the FA Cup does bring up and it would be another good one."
Unfortunately, the meeting never happened on the Goodison Park pitch as Tyler was left on the substitutes bench.
As a result, Ferguson received a huge amount of criticism from fans on social media. In fact, it appears one Everton player approached the Peterborough manager after the full-time whistle to have his say.
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Speaking in his post-match press conference, Ferguson defended his decision to leave Young on the bench before revealing that an Everton player "had a pop" at him for doing so.
"It was very difficult to leave Tyler on the bench, I wanted him on, but I've got to get a forward on to get a goal," he said. "One of their players had a pop at me which was out of order. I had to do what was best for my team."
As mentioned earlier, many people had their say on the matter, including former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who was "annoyed" by the decision.
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"He [Ferguson] could have made a bit of history, done something amazing for the club, for the boy. You know, put him on. And, you know, give a moment for a father and his son," he said on talkSPORT.
"There's more to, you know, just a football match. And it just… I've never liked Darren Ferguson… he just annoyed me.
"He's on the bench. Like, he could have just put him on, made a bit of history and, you know, give us something to talk about. He didn't even put him on. He’s 2-0 down. If he'd still had three minutes left, I would have said, go on, get your kit on. Go and make history."
O'Hara added: "I'd be sitting there going, come on, mate, put him on. Like, just put him on. It's a moment. It's a special moment for someone.”
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Everton went on to secure their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 win. Thoughts on the decision to leave Tyler Young on the bench? Let us know in the comments.