Tony Philliskirk paid tribute to his young players after Premier League giants Newcastle needed a last-gasp goal to see off Athletic's dogged under-18 side.

Kazenga Lua Lua turned the ball home to complete his brace just three minutes from the end to put the Magpies through after Ryan Brooke had cancelled out the hosts' first-half opener.

Latics can consider themselves unlucky not to have fashioned an equaliser in injury time to force the tie into extra time.

Schoolboy sub Leroy Chinthengah had a goal ruled out for offside before Nathan Kilcourse's last-ditch effort was cleared off the line by a defender.

Philliskirk beamed: "We were magnificent, particularly in the second half.  We could have won the game and I couldn't be any prouder than I am now in defeat.

"People have described this result to me as a 'glorious failure', but the lads gave everything they had and to me that feels like we've won.

"Maybe we gave Newcastle a little too much respect in the first half, but the lads took on board what we told them at the break and were fantastic in the second half.

"We had a 20-minute spell in the second half where Ryan scored and we had a few other chances, and if we'd have nicked another then it would have been very interesting."

He added: "I'm not making excuses but four of the starting eleven have hardly trained recently, and I think it showed in the end.

"The two schoolboys who went on did fantastically well and I'm so proud of all the lads.

"We told the players at half time that they were still in the game and their reaction was superb.  I'll sit back and analyse things further but I think we have a lot to be proud of."

Meanwhile Philliskirk had a special mention for striker Brooke after he bounced back from a trying period with a superb individual strike.

Brooke picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and unloaded a scorcher which flashed into the Newcastle net, leaving his manager and mentor delighted.

"To be fair I've been Ryan's biggest critic over the last month," Philliskirk explained. "He has got all the ability in the world but is sometimes too laid-back in his approach to the game.

"Ryan's had one or two quiet words in his ear but he was excellent tonight, and not just with the goal, which was a great strike.

"He was good in the air and held the ball up well, which is excellent considering he's not been able to train properly for the last two to three weeks.

"One ball beat us in the end.  I'll keep repeating myself - I'm very proud of the lads and they are all winners."

Tony Philliskirk was talking to Latics World - the club's official online TV service.  Click here to sign up today and watch the full interview.