The Under-18s suffered a challenging 5-2 defeat against Leicester at Cobham on Saturday, despite Sol Gordon’s early strike and Landon Emenalo’s powerful volley, which initially put us in the lead.

However, the Foxes responded with an equaliser and went on to score three more goals after the break.

Reflecting on the match, head coach Sulaiman acknowledges the disappointment of the loss, but focuses on the developmental opportunities that can arise from these challenges.

'The first-half performance was positive,' Sulaiman said. 'Barring the two goals we conceded, it was positive primarily because we dominated possession, had good control of the game and created a few chances.

'We scored two really good goals, which reflected the improvement from our first two league games. The boys came into this game seemingly psychologically stronger than they were in those first two games, and that was a positive sign.

'However, conceding just before half-time was even more disappointing. In the changing room, we emphasised the importance of having a positive half-time team talk, because we felt there were many positives to take from the game.

'The boys seemed motivated and competitive. As I mentioned, we dominated possession and felt that we needed to maintain the momentum we had, going into the second half. It was disappointing when we conceded the third goal. I think at that point, the boys became really deflated, and we struggled to bounce back.

'Despite that, we had a good opportunity to make it 3-3 and we had a few half-chances to try and level the game, but we didn't capitalise on those chances.

'Conceding the fourth goal was a big blow and, from a psychological standpoint, it highlighted issues of maturity and naivety. How we conceded the fifth goal was also not great but, ultimately, I see this as a tough test.

'While we started the game well, our response to disappointment was not good. That's probably the biggest takeaway for me. How we respond in times of adversity is crucial.'

He further highlighted the importance of learning and adapting following the defeat against Leicester. Sulaiman believes that reflecting on this factor could be the most crucial aspect of the players' development at this stage of the season.

'We've spoken about being naive. We've spoken about the boys being streetwise and learning quickly. I think it boils down to our ability to deal with setbacks. You're going to get setbacks in games, things are not always going to go your way.

'You're going to miss chances, you're going to misplace a pass, but it's important that we react positively in those moments. I think we had a number of moments where we didn't react well and that created a domino effect. That was probably the biggest issue.

'But there were positive aspects. Sol showed some really good strength from the left-hand corner to create the opportunity that forced Leicester to head the ball clear, which fell to Landon, and then Landon scored a cracking goal.

'I was really pleased for Landon to score and I think he had a relatively decent performance too.

'At 2-1, you could see the confidence lift the boys. They celebrated together and we just needed to build on that momentum.

'Then we got the penalty, which we didn't convert, and I think that deflated the boys. So again, it's about dealing with those moments, dealing with missed opportunities and setbacks, which we don't handle very well.'

Currently, the team is in an international break, with several of Sulaiman’s players involved in Under-17 and Under-18 international duty, representing countries including England, Portugal and the USA.

The Under-18s boss discussed how his players can use these opportunities to further their careers and expressed his hope that these experiences will benefit them upon the players' return to Cobham.

'The break provides some players with the opportunity to represent their country, which is a fantastic, invaluable experience that will only help them become better footballers.

'For the boys that have gone on international duty, there's a massive benefit. Firstly, they're playing against some of the best players from other countries, which will only help to improve their game.

'We hope that the experience they gain will be brought back to the Academy and will positively impact the performances of other players and the team. Those experiences are good for the individual, but we also welcome them because they're great for the team.

'For those of us still here at Cobham, it gives us a chance to work more closely with a smaller group of players, having bespoke sessions, meetings and analysis workshops to help the boys develop and expand their learning.

'For the coaches, it provides an opportunity to reflect on how well we've done, identify areas for improvement and look at how we can further develop the programme.'