Alex Morris says his young players must learn their lessons after conceding three late goals in their 4-1 Papa John’s Trophy defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

It was a tough night against a strong Trotters side, but the score was 1-1 going into the final stages after Courtney Baker-Richardson had cancelled out Amadou Bakayoko’s opener.

But when Dion Charles got the home side’s second on 78 minutes, the Alex chased the game and were hit by two further sucker punches – delivered by Charles and Kieran Sadlier.

Morris said: “We rode our luck and did ever so well to be at 1-1 going into the final 10 minutes or so.

“But once the goal went in to make it 2-1 we lost our shape and our discipline, and went chasing the game, and as we know it went to 3-1 and 4-1.

“Sometimes in those scenarios you have to take your medicine, stay composed and see if you can nick a goal at the end to take it to penalties.

“But that comes with experience, and a lot of those players are young. There was a lot of naivety to how we responded to going 2-1 down.

“They have to use it as a learning curve when they get their opportunities again.”

The manager was able to take some positives from the Nothern Group B defeat.

He added: “It was positive to see Charlie Finney and Joel Tabiner get 90 minutes. They have taken their performance levels on a bit after playing 45 minutes at Grimsby (in the Carabao Cup) earlier in the season.

“And we got through the game injury free as well, which is probably the main positive of the night.”