Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl refused to blame his kids for their humiliation at Manchester United.
Saints are currently without nine first-team players due to injury and handed first starts of the season to academy duo Kayne Ramsay and Alex Jankewitz at Old Trafford.
Jankewitz's full Premier League debut did not last long, sent off within two minutes for a reckless challenge on Scott McTominay.
United led 4-0 at half-time, but Saints kept the score down to six before Jan Bednarek was then dismissed with four minutes to play.
With teenage debutant Allan Tchaptchet, on as a substitute, at centre-back with Jack Stephens for the closing minutes, Saints conceded three more times.
Hasenhuttl added: "Do you want me to blame the young lads for not doing their job perfect?
"I don't do this because I know they don't do it because they like to do it. They are not good enough maybe at the moment and they have to learn. But how can I blame them?"
