MICHAEL Duff felt his young centre half pairing of James Clarke and Oliver Younger stood up well to a physical challenge against Bolton.

The Clarets' Under-23 side were beaten 4-1 by Wanderers in the Professional Development League at Tameside Stadium, but Duff wasn't too disappointed with the performance.

The defeat ended a four game unbeaten run but 17-year-old Clarke and 18-year-old Younger were given a physical test by Wanderers pair Connor Hall and Jeff King.

“In the second half we set a challenge to the two centre-halves and I thought they stepped up to it well, because they got beat up in the first half," Duff said.

“That’s the challenge for two under-18 players going up against older, bigger and good players. It’s something they have to learn.

“To be fair to them, I thought they rose to it second half, even though it was difficult. They were 3-1 up and they just kept it turning it round with two big lads up top who were willing runners.

“It’s tough to play against. It didn’t look much like an Academy game.

"If you want to play centre half it’s something you’re going to have to learn. Football isn’t really played like that at the younger age groups, but they’re not all going to play in the Premier League.

"If you come and play at this level it’s like that every week, it’s something they need to find a way of doing, if you’re not the biggest you need to use your body or be clever and do things like that."

Although the Clarets were beaten Duff felt there were positives to take for his side but they found themselves 2-0 down inside 10 minutes and 3-1 behind at the break despite being the better side.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half. We created more chances, but what we have to learn is you can’t be the better team and be 3-1 down," he said.

“You can’t concede one goal and then concede another one straight after it.

“We were disappointed with the goals, but there were some good things in amongst it as well.

“They were more clinical in both boxes.

“People might see the result at 4-1, but it was nothing like the Sheffield United game (when the Clarets lost 6-1). There were lots of positives in it. It was a young performance, a green performance where we were a bit wet behind the ears."

Dean Marney came through another 90 minutes for the Under-23s as he continues his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, but Duff felt his young side were too reliant on him at times.

"It’s something we need to learn as well, just because Dean Marney is on the pitch doesn’t mean you have to give him the ball at every opportunity," he said.

"The third goal Clarkey would never have passed that ball if it was an Under-23s player. Because it’s Dean Marney he rushes the pass, tries to give it to him when it’s not on.

"That’s a mentality and something they need to grow into. That’s the level they want to go and play at, the right ball is the right ball, not ‘oh it’s Dean Marney’. It’s another thing to learn from."