David Wetherall has revealed his pride in City’s youngsters after their FA Youth Cup exploits.

The young Bantams suffered penalty shoot-out agony at Preston to miss out on a place in the last 16.

But Wetherall insists the rookie players should have nothing to feel down about.

“You can’t ask any more of people than they give of their best and they’ve certainly done that all through the competition,” said the youth coach.

“The players put everything into the game and can feel proud of themselves.

“It was heart-wrenching in the dressing room afterwards. The Youth Cup means so much to the lads and a few tears were shed.

“Penalties are a great way to go through but a horrible way to lose. But that’s football and unfortunately nobody has come up with a better way to decide a game than ten kicks from the spot.

“The lads had put that much in and to lose that way is cruel. But this whole run has been a great learning experience for all of them.”

City matched their Championship youth opponents over two hours and the back four, which included three first-year scholars, was outstanding.

Wetherall said: “Our application and defensive organisation was excellent. That wasn’t just down to the back four but also the willingness of our forwards to work and chase.

“I’d like to have seen us pass the ball better but I thought the play on the break was swift and incisive. As well as our goal, we had four other excellent opportunities that could have gone in on another day.

“But they can look back and say that nobody has beaten us in open play. And that was against a Preston side who had a very good run in the competition last year as well.”