The game had been highly anticipated due to the possibility of Everton’s Ashley Young, 39, facing his 18-year-old son, Tyler, on the pitch.Despite the historical significance of such a matchup, Ferguson opted not to play Tyler, citing the team’s need to prioritise the result over sentimentality. The League One side lost after a first-half goal from Beto and a stoppage-time penalty by Iliman Ndiaye sealed Everton’s win in the third-round tie.
Ferguson: “Not a Charity Case”
Ferguson addressed his decision after the match, explaining the reasoning behind his substitutions:
“It was very difficult to leave Tyler on the bench but I’ve got to do what I think is best for the team. As much as I wanted Tyler to get on, if the game had been 2-0 at that point I would’ve put him on but at 1-0, I had to get a forward on. I’ve got to try and get something out of the game and do what is best for my team.
“One of their [Everton] players had a pop at me, which was bang out of order. We are not a charity case.”
Tyler Young, who has made only one substitute appearance for Peterborough this season, was included in the matchday squad for the first time in 15 games. However, he remained on the bench as Ferguson made his fifth and final substitution in the 88th minute.
Reaction and Unhappiness
In the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat, Ashley Young took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment, posting the word “GUTTED” in capital letters. While Ashley was substituted on with 17 minutes remaining, the father-son showdown never materialised.
BBC commentator and former Everton player Martin Keown commented on the situation: “Father and son there. It didn’t happen. But Ashley will be saying to him [Tyler], ‘Don’t worry, you’ve got a big future ahead of you’.”
The missed opportunity marked a rare and poignant moment in FA Cup history, as never before have a father and son played against one another in the competition’s 154-year history.
