QPR Under-18s bowed out of the FA Youth Cup after a resounding 4-1 defeat to Premier League giants Tottenham on Tuesday night.

Jack Roles’ brace, along with a goal apiece for Reo Griffiths and George Marsh, handed Spurs a deserved victory, despite Kingsley Eshun halving the deficit just before half time for Furlong’s young side.

While disappointed with the result, Furlong drew on the positives as his side were eliminated at the fourth round of the competition.

He told the Times: “We knew it would be a big test and the boys are really disappointed with the overall outcome, but I’m trying to pick them up as best as I can.

“We were up against good opposition but I felt at the start of the game we might have shown them too much respect.

“We weren’t able to dictate the ball as much as we would have liked early on, but as the first half progressed we got stuck in people’s faces a bit and got some joy, and that’s especially where our first goal came from.

“We pressed them high, nicked the ball in a promising position and it was a good finish from Kingsley.”

He continued: “I thought Josh Bowler put in a decent shift. He can run with the ball, can cross and can shoot. He was a bright spark for us.

“Marcin Brzozowski made a couple of great saves as well to keep the scoreline down, so that will do him the world of good in terms of building his confidence up.”

The former Rs striker also stressed that development of players is the priority over results throughout the academy system.

He added: “Of course we wanted to win the game, it’s a cup competition after all.

“But in terms of our weekly domestic league it’s all about development and the individuals as opposed to the group, and what they need to do in order to progress and get through to the next level.

“That’s how we work in terms of the philosophy at this club.

“It gives my lads a massive incentive seeing the likes of Mide (Shodipo), Niko (Hamalainen) and Osman (Kakay) around the first-team set up.

“Some of them were here last year and they’ve trained and worked with them, so to see how far those lads have come is a sign of a definite pathway to the first team.”

Next up for Furlong’s men is a trip to Charlton on Saturday.