WANDERERS under-18s kick off their FA Youth Cup campaign at Portsmouth tonight with coach David Lee hoping his patched-up side can forget their league struggles and blaze a cup trail.

The young Whites have not won in 10 matches in the FA U18 Premier League North Group and registered just two victories so far.

But Lee believes a break from the league could be just the tonic his side needs, with the history of the FA Youth Cup and the fact tonight’s tie is taking place at Fratton Park also factors to inspire the teenage Wanderers players.

Lee told The Bolton News: “You can learn a lot about players in these FA Youth Cup ties.

“It brings a different experience for them and is a test of their mental side playing at a big stadium and against opposition they would not normally face week in, week out.

“It also gives them a taste of what it’s like for the first team with the preparation very similar.

“We trained yesterday morning before heading south and stayed overnight in a hotel before another training session this morning and the match tonight.

“They know it is not a day out, though, they are representing the club and we always want to do well in this competition.”

Wanderers certainly did well two years ago when they beat Portsmouth at what was then the Reebok Stadium at the same stage before making it all the way to the quarter-finals and an agonising exit to Nottingham Forest.

That run, which included a memorable 8-4 triumph at Tottenham, could not be repeated last season when the young Whites lost on home soil to Sheffield United after a penalty shootout.

Lee is hoping for another third-round win against Pompey tonight when the responsibility for goals will rest largely with top scorer Jamie Thomas.

And Lee says it is a competition that demands the strongest line-up available.

He added: “We had eight out injured for the recent league defeat at Middlesbrough but our physio staff have done tremendously well and after patching a few up we have six players back.

“It is important because while you make changes in the league to see how different players are developing, this is a competition where the results does matter and we want to get through.

“We saw the buzz the run two years ago created around the academy and hopefully we can have a similarly good run this year.

“I went to watch Portsmouth in the previous round when they beat non-league Thamesmead so I have had an insight into their strengths and weaknesses.

“It will be tough but we will go into it thinking positively.”

Tonight’s tie will be decided on the night with an away trip to Crewe awaiting the winners.