Their results have been better than their senior peers - and Steven Pressley has praised Falkirk’s under-20s.
In their latest match the Bairns were convincing winners over Ross County on Tuesday night.
Only a contested penalty for the Highland side breached Graham Bowman’s net, but goals from Thomas Grant and Conor McGrandles gave the hosts the victory.
And Steven Pressley told The Falkirk Herald he’d like to play MORE of the under-20s in the misfiring top team, who fell to a fourth defeat in Kirkcaldy at the weekend.
“The 20s league is working well for us. The players are progressing remarkably well in that set-up.
“I’d like to play more of them in the first team if I’m honest, because their development with those games has been fantastic.
“What you see in the 20s is the future of this club. They play in the manner and to the principles of our first team, and they really excited me.”
Goalscorer McGrandles also impressed when coming on as a first-team substitute against Raith Rovers on Saturday, and others are knocking at the top team’s door. But Pressley won’t throw them all in at the deep end despite the Bairns sitting seventh after 11 games.
He defended the team, and the Academy set-up, adding: “I understand the here and now, but I have got the responsibility to progress the football club - and what I see developing in the Academy and the under-20s - when it progresses to the first team, will be the makings of this club.
“A manager’s responsibility extends further than 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday.
“Especially in this day and age, they have to work to help the club survive - I’ve had to develop and sell players.
“But there’s a great future in the under-20s. What we need is patience to see it through.”
Sean Higgins, Craig Sibbald and David Weatherston will again be missing against managerless Livingston.
Robbie Neilson is expected to make his final appearance as a trialist.
As the under-20s were defeating County, former Falkirk boss John Hughes was taking the reins at Hartlepool.
Gareth Evans has been left in charge of Saturday’s hosts..
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