Academy boss had nothing but praise for his under 23s despite despite a 2-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers last night as the youngsters progressed to the knockout rounds of the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Irons now meet  Luton Town in the last-32 after finishing second in their group and Westley said: “We have to be positive to start with – we have gone through” he insisted.

“Setting the stall out at the start of the season you ask ‘can you go a step further than last year and qualify through the groups?’, so it’s a really good achievement, we must not forget that.

“To be one of three [U21] teams to go through to the last-32 is a big achievement for the players at the club.

“Of course there is the disappointment at having not topped the group, we were a goal away from doing that.

“I was disappointed with the manner of the two goals, it was tough to get the ball down and play because the game was so physical but they are the demands that the young players have to cope with if you are going to go on loan at this level.”