Darren Ferguson revealed he faced criticism from an Everton player for refusing to bring on Tyler Young, son of Ashley Young, during Peterborough’s 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park. This FA Cup third-round tie had captured headlines with the potential for a historic father-son showdown.
Eighteen-year-old Tyler, who made his first-team debut for Peterborough earlier this season, was named as a substitute.
When his father Ashley, 39, was subbed on for Everton in the 73rd minute, fans hoped for a once-in-a-lifetime moment. However, Ferguson prioritized his team’s performance over sentiment, choosing not to play the young midfielder.
Peterborough was trailing 1-0 after Beto’s goal late in the first half, and Ferguson used his substitutions on Oscar Wallin, Malik Mothersille, Ryan de Havilland, Abraham Odoh, and Gustav Lindgren. Deep into injury time, Iliman Ndiaye sealed Everton’s victory with a penalty, leaving Tyler as an unused substitute.
Fans criticized Ferguson’s decision online, accusing him of being overly rigid. Addressing the controversy, Ferguson explained the difficult choice at his post-match press conference.
“It was very difficult, but I had to do what was best for the team. At 1-0, I needed to try and get a result,” he said. “We’re not a charity case, as much as I wanted Tyler to play against his dad.”
Ferguson also revealed that an Everton player confronted him over the decision, calling it “bang out of order.” Despite the backlash, he stood firm, emphasizing that his priority was securing a result for Peterborough.
Reflecting on the game, Ferguson praised his team’s effort, noting that Beto’s goal was the turning point. “We gave them a game and had chances at 0-0. The players did themselves justice,” he said. “We didn’t come here for a night out, but the boys performed well.”
Adding to the unusual circumstances, Everton had parted ways with manager Sean Dyche just hours before kick-off. “It was surprising and sad to see Sean go. He’s a good man,” Ferguson remarked. “It was an unusual situation to face on the day of a game.”
Despite their FA Cup exit, Ferguson remained proud of his team’s determination, even in the face of criticism and disappointment.