A reason to be cheerful: Leicester City’s Academy shine in superb week at Seagrave
As I sat in the stands at Walsall last Tuesday, even I – a self-proclaimed Leicester City rational optimist – was struggling to extract too many positives and had to admit that the general outlook was looking fairly grim.
One shining light last week, however, amongst this LCFC-induced commotion and subsequent fan meltdown, was the Academy.
Having previously collected 3 points from their opening 3 games, our Under 21s are now 8th in the table, after securing back-to-back wins on Monday and Friday last week against Middlesbrough and Stoke City respectively.
Beating the ‘Boro
For the visit of Middlesbrough – at a cold and wet Seagrave – Leicester lined up With Stevie Bausor in goal. Joe Wormleighton was the right back, with Mirsad Ali left and Liam McAlinney and skipper Harvey Godsmark Ford between them. Henry Cartwright played in midfield alongside the more attacking Oliver Ewing, and ahead of them was a front four packed with power and pace.
Jake Evans left, Jaden Joseph right with Logan Briggs in the number 10 role behind Josh King up front. While the side kept broadly to shape throughout, the front four demonstrated impressive fluidity and freedom in their interchanges.
It was the visitors who struck first, with the opener coming from the penalty spot. Ajay Matthew, who had got in front of Godsmark Ford and gone to ground to win the penalty as Olivier Samuels’ cross was delivered, slotted in, sending Bausor the wrong way in the Leicester goal.
Aside from the early goal, the opening exchanges were fairly even, and Leicester gradually began to be in the ascendancy. The combination of King dropping in and combining with Evans and Briggs in the left half space looked the most likely to yield success, and it was the former who gave Leicester parity in the 25th minute.
Briggs won the ball with a sliding challenge and laid off to Ewing, who just about managed to work it to King. The 17-year-old Leicester man picked up the ball 25 yards out in the right half space and slotted away brilliantly on his left foot. Middlesbrough keeper Nathan Fisher could only stand and watch as the ball sailed past him - at pace - into the bottom right corner.
Josh King had his brace just 4 minutes later. Wormleighton and Cartwright combined well to win back the ball inside their own half and the latter played a teasing ball over the top. Harley Hunt – booked minutes earlier for a reckless foul - failed to clear effectively, and King was there to pounce. 1-on-1 with the keeper, he made no mistake – this time slotting home with his right – to catapult Leicester into the lead.
The Foxes created more chances before the break, with midfield duo Cartwright and Ewing – both demonstrating confidence on the ball – curling narrowly off target with long range efforts. The visitors’ best chance of the half came late on, as Nathan Simpson was clear and rounded the onrushing Bausor. The goal was gaping but the angle was narrow and the Middlesbrough man could only find the side netting. Leicester were, just about, value for their lead at the break.
Leicester continued to attack in the second half, and the live wire Evans had an early chance when set through on goal. The youngster dinked over the bar, perhaps thinking he had more time than he did. Harley Hunt’s evening of misery was complete in the 64th minute when the Boro defender received a second yellow card for a cynical foul, and from here onwards Leicester had several more chances to wrap up the points as they looked to hammer home their numerical advantage.
Briggs – ever energetic – was at the heart of a fluid attacking display, most impressively picking up the ball a long way from goal, nutmegging Simpson and driving towards the box in the 78th minute. His initial lay-off was blocked, but the ball eventually fell to Ewing who fizzed home from just inside the box to give City the 2-goal cushion they had been pushing for.
15 minutes later, the referee called time on an impressive 3-1 Leicester victory. A nice display from the hosts who – aside from the early penalty – rarely looked troubled, with Godsmark Ford and McAlinney excellently marshalling the defence. Although it was Josh King who stole the show with his brace, it was a strong all-round display, with the midfield looking solid and Evans and Briggs in particular providing spark for the fans in the downpour at Seagrave.
Seeing off Stoke
For the visit of Stoke City on Friday night – Seagrave this time set against a dazzling sunset - Leicester made 6 changes, with Harry French starting in goal. Ben Grist came in at right centre back, and Jayden Joseph dropped to right back. Jahmari Lindsey played left back, whilst Toby Onanaye replaced Ewing in midfield. Jake Evans kept his place on the left, but Briggs was pushed right as Michael Golding - £5m signing from Chelsea – was handed a start centrally. The rapid Kian Pennant led the line.
Here, the mirroring setup with Steve Cooper’s first team shape was more pronounced. Joseph – a quick player who loves to get forward – played as the high full back in attack, with Grist adept behind him defending the wide right channel in transition. Lindsay tucked in from the left to form a back 3 on the ball.
This shape allowed Logan Briggs to drift inside and take up a position as one of the ‘dual 10s’ alongside Michael Golding, allowing two of Leicester most bright and creative stars time and space on the ball in central pockets. Henry Cartwright was steadfast in defensive midfield as ever, with Onanaye, who impressed on the night, next to him with license to get forward, particularly in the left half space. Evans – with his aforementioned physicality and explosive pace – came in from wide left.
Similarly to the Middlesbrough game, the opener came from the penalty spot, but this time in the Foxes favour. Golding was played through and attempted to round Alfie Brooks in the Stoke goal. The keeper dived for the ball but could only get the man, and Henry Cartwright, on penalty duties, made no mistake from 12 yards, coolly finishing into the bottom left.
This set the tone for a quite devastating Leicester City first half, and the young Foxes doubled their lead 20 minutes later. Evans chased a ball over the top on the left, but still had much work to do. A superb touch and drive into the box later, Evans had only the keeper to beat and slotted away with his left foot at the near post.
The floodgates had opened, and it only 2 took minutes for Evans to score his second – Leicester’s third – in stunning fashion. From back to front, City played out with French beginning a slick move down the left-hand side, resulting in Golding setting Evans through. The ball threatened to run away from Evans, and his angle became narrow, but the youngster rose magnificently to the challenge, smashing home into the roof of the net.
The side were in their rhythm now, and in no mood to stop. 2 minutes later, it was Logan Briggs who was in on the goalscoring action. Leicester – allowed to move too easily by a Stoke defence knocked in confidence and acutely aware of the explosivity of the Foxes front line – entered the box through Onanaye, who squared across to Briggs. Brooks got a hand to Briggs’ left footed strike, but it was not enough to prevent a Leicester 4th - the Foxes were running riot at Seagrave.
From a Leicester perspective, the job was complete in the first half, and a quiet second half in terms of clear-cut chances ensued. A pattern emerged with Leicester controlling the ball and the flow of the game, looking to work openings. Evans – hungry to complete his hat trick – continued to look lively, but ultimately nothing quite fell for him. Pennant had Leicester’s best chance of the half when he rapidly rounded a defender who had a 5-yard head-start on him but couldn’t beat Brooks.
Stoke’s best chance came in second half stoppage time through a corner, but the danger was eventually averted as the ball was cleared following a scramble at the back. Overall, a virtually perfect evening for the young Foxes, conveyed by a 4-0 scoreline which didn’t flatter them in the slightest.
The kids are alright
While it will be Evans, Briggs and King who rightly catch the eyes of most Leicester City fans for their goalscoring exploits, there were excellent performances across the park for City in both games. It was a defence, despite personnel change between the fixtures, that rarely conceded big chances from open play, with Godsmark Ford the ever-present, and Cartwright always consistently providing protection in front of them from his defensive midfield role.
Jake Evans clearly has the traits and potential to turn into something special: physical capabilities, technical excellence and intelligent movement. Briggs and Golding consistently look silky on the ball and confident to make things happen and impact games. It’s a side full of players that look like they are enjoying their football, and whilst it is Will Alves who appears most ready from this crop of youngsters to make the step up to senior football, the future of Leicester City appears in safe hands with this group.
My positive sentiments on the sidelines were shared by coach Leon McSweeney in the dugout, who spoke on the importance of achieving positive results for the squad after the Middlesbrough victory, saying that he was “very pleased” and that the young players “will get a lot of heart from this.” His side certainly looked impressive when they took to the pitch last week, and a pair of well-deserved wins should give them a further injection of confidence heading into the coming weeks.
The Leicester City Under 21s are back in action in PL2 at Blackburn with a 7pm kick off on Friday 4th October. They then return to Seagrave to take on local rivals Nottingham Forest on the evening of 21st October – this time in the Premier League Cup.
I would encourage any Leicester fans to get themselves down for the game and watch as the next generation of stars make their way through the ranks. Having seen the last week unfold at all levels of the football club, I would particularly recommend attendance to any supporters that have attended first team games regularly and feel starved of their victory fix!
