There will surely come a time when the name of an under-21 team is etched onto the Football League Trophy.
And many observers believe it is Chelsea's kids who are most likely to leave the purists squealing with disgust by triumphing at Wembley.
But their moment will not come this season after Peterborough United's clinical come-from-behind win at Stamford Bridge.
Richard Nartey heads home late in the first half to hand Chelsea Under-21 the lead
Marcus Maddison grabbed Peterborough United's final goal in the comeback victory
CHELSEA UNDER-21: Cumming; Colley, Nartey, Guehi; Grant (c), McEachran (Redan 76), Gallagher, Gilmour, Castillo; Taylor-Crossdale (Anjorin 61), Ugbo (Brown 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Ziger (GK); Lavinier, Mola, Maatsen Coach: Joe Edwards
GOAL: Nartey 45
BOOKED: Gilmour
PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Chapman; Ward, Naismith (c), Tafazolli, Lafferty (Denton 87); Maddison (Godden 90), Reed, Cooke, Dembele; Tomlin (Cooper 46), Toney
SUBS NOT USED: O'Malley (GK); Lyon, Bennett, Stevens Manager: Steve Evans
GOALS: Dembele 64; Toney 72; Maddison 74
BOOKED: Reed
Manchester City will tend the academy flame alone in the Checkatrade Trophy quarter-finals this year after the Blues, semi-finalists 12 months ago, were left well beaten by their League One opponents.
When Richard Nartey powered home a header late in the first-half, it looked as though Chelsea's latest cohort of outrageously talented teens would claim another scalp.
But Peterborough dominated the second half and ultimately earned their place in Thursday's draw with a thrilling comeback.
Goals from Siriki Dembele, Ivan Toney and Marcus Maddison preserved Football League pride on this occasion.
Chelsea's youngsters will learn plenty from this experience and from the test of taking on, and losing to, hardened professionals.
And if there is any value in this competition in this format, that must be it.
This was a contest that took a long time to warm up on a chilly west London evening. The visitors, chasing a play-off spot in League One, made most of the early running.
The muscular presence of Lee Tomlin, who drifted in and around the front line, and the direct, driving runs of right-winger Marcus Maddison caused Chelsea's youngsters
