AcademyYouth League reaction: 'We showed great character in the circumstances'

A hard-earned point in Spain is set to send the Reds through to the knockout stages, with confirmation to follow today's matches elsewhere.

Jayden Danns had given Lewtas' side the lead from the penalty spot after Rio Ngumoha was brought down in the box, but then received a straight red card for a challenge by Ranel Young.

Girona levelled from the penalty spot and then went in front. However, Trent Kone-Doherty scored a brilliant equaliser to ensure a vital result.

Read on for head coach Lewtas' post-match assessment with Liverpoolfc.com...

On his reflections on the 90 minutes…

I thought we started brilliantly. Playing away from home in Europe is never easy but I thought we passed the ball well, and I think when we took the lead it was deserved. The red card changes the game, which was disappointing from our point of view.

On whether he thought the straight red card was harsh…

Look, it's hard isn't it but what's disappointing for me was I don't think they got a yellow card in the game. For ours to be a red card is tough but decisions are made, and for us it was trying to find a way of getting a result. They are a good team and they haven't lost a game so to do what we did with 10 men was fantastic. We showed great character.

On conceding so early after the restart and then going 2-1 down…

It was a tough one really because I think there is a few questions marks about how long it took their lad to go down for the penalty. That's always difficult because it can play with your emotions as a player when you feel you are being hard done to. They then scored a good goal from distance and we were up against it, but we said to the lads we knew we'd get a chance if we can stay in the game. We've got pace and we've got good players and that's how it panned out.

On Kone-Doherty's superb leveller…

I was pleased for Trent and I thought we were a threat on both sides. He took his goal great and even though Girona had lots of crosses into our box in the second half, I thought overall with how we performed with 10 men we probably deserved that. We didn't let the game get away from us. I'm disappointed we couldn't win the game after how we started but in that situation we were in, we'll take a point.

On the situation in the table and his overall view of this Youth League campaign…

We've had six really good challenges and six really good games. The level of quality in this competition has been really good. We lost in Leipzig and that was probably fair, but it was frustrating we couldn't get something out of the Real Madrid game. We conceded early and missed some good chances. Overall, our level of performances have been really good but the odd slip-up at the top level can really cost you. Now all we can do is see what happens.