Practice makes perfect as 'big game' heroics help Aston Villa reach FA Youth Cup final

The 18-year-old saved twice in Monday night’s 3-1 semi-final shoot-out win over Manchester United at Villa Park.

Proctor denied Jimmy Thwaites and Amir Ibragimov from the spot, while mind-games of which Emi Martinez would have been proud then saw Zac Baumann send the decisive kick wide as Villa’s under-18s reached the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2021.

While United wilted in the shoot-out, after the tie had finished 1-1 after extra time, the home side were perfect with Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Keilan Quinn and Max Jenner all converting.

Shan later revealed how practice had made perfect, explaining: “In preparation for every round, religiously, we have practiced penalties.

“There have been times as a the lead coach when I have run a bit over in my session and thought, should we cut that?

“But Pete Saunders is the one who drove that. He said: ‘No, come on Jim, we need to practice.

“It has not just been for this moment but for every round, so the lads have had lots of rehearsal.

“We have done it in a variety of ways to try and recreate pressure scenarios. I said to them before the shoot-out: ‘You have had lots of rehearsal, the process is there for you, just go an trust your process’. That was for the takers and for Sam."

Proctor was spotted writing down information on United's likely takers on his water bottle before the shoot-out and was then seen shouting at each of them beforehand.

Shan said: "He is a big-game player, a big character. There were maybe some mind-games in there as well on his behalf. But he was outstanding.” 

Villa will now host either Manchester City or Watford in next month’s final.

Shan’s team made the perfect start when Trai-Varn Mulley reacted quickest to bundle home a loose ball inside the opening four minutes.

But United hit back through James Scanlon, before Villa skipper Aiden Borland skied a penalty over the bar in the closing stages of the first half.

Both teams had chances to win it after that but neither could make the breakthrough, leaving the way clear for Proctor to be the shoot-out hero.

Shan, while obviously delighted with the result, admitted Villa’s performance could have been better. 

He said: “I told the lads that for some people, unfortunately, this might be the biggest game you play in your career.

“We have one more now, the final, so hopefully there are many more for them. I think the occasion might have got to one or two.

“We weren’t quite ourselves, the first half in particular. I wanted us to be a bit braver in possession.

“Everyone in there is buzzing with the result. The performance was maybe a little indifferent, maybe not how we want to perform as an academy or an under-18 team.

“But you have to win in a variety of ways and they have certainly shown that grit and desire to compete and put bodies on the line.”