The future looks bright…in a few years’ time

U21s – Fulham 1 Leicester City 3

Report and Images by Kate Thompson

The Development Squad were playing Fulham at their training ground and, because we didn’t have a first team match, I decided to go.  The ground was in deepest Surrey, at a place called Motspur Park.  The City team included two members of the first team squad, Tom Lawrence and Anthony Knockaert, and I understood that the Fulham team also had two players who had featured in their first team.  Just before the game started, I was joined by another Leicester fan, who had cycled over from Wimbledon.

City U21 v Fulham (1) (2) (480x360)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before they scored, the City team looked better than Fulham; their passing was crisper and they made some good moves.  The first goal came as early as the 6th minute and was scored by Jak McCourt, and Harry Panayiotou scored a second only three minutes later.  It was all Leicester at this stage and they looked as if they could score at will, but as the first half wore on they seemed to rest on their laurels a bit and allowed Fulham back into the game. It was therefore no surprise when they reduced the arrears in the 36th minute, scored by one of their first team players, Patrick Roberts.

City came out for the second half clearly determined not to let their lead slip and in truth Fulham posed little threat.  Ben Chilwell came on for Simonas Stankevicius in the 61st minute and shortly afterwards was allowed to weave his way through half the Fulham team into the box; after turning the defenders inside out he was brought down and Knockaert scored from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute. 

There appeared to be a discussion about who would take it but Knockaert was forceful in his determination to do so and I guess the other players were disinclined to argue!  After a certain infamous penalty miss against Watford, I could not be sure that he would score but he dispatched it nicely into the corner, to make the scoreline 3-1 to Leicester.

City U21 v Fulham (2) (2) (480x360)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Barmby was replaced by Kieran Kennedy in the 82nd minute and Knockaert by Louis Rowley in the 85th.  The team was captained by James Pearson.  Apart from a few scares and one Fulham shot that hit the crossbar, the defence was pretty solid. 

All in all, an impressive performance that gives me hope for the future, after the under 18s managed to get to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup earlier in the week.  We just need to stay in the Premiership until these young players grow up!

City U21 v Fulham (4) (2) (480x360)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City: Smith, Pearson (c), Barmby (Kennedy 82), McCourt, Sesay, Davis, Lawrence, Panayiotou, Stankevicius (Chilwell 61), Knockaert (Rowley 85), Dodoo. Subs not used: Maddison, Scott

Goals: McCourt 6, Panayiotou 9, Knockaert pen 72

Fulham: Norman, Grimmer, Evans, Donnelly, Buatu (c), Amorebieta, Roberts, Tu Na Bangna, Taggart, Williams, Plumain. Subs not used: Barnes, Della Verde, Casasola, Redford

Goal: Roberts 36

Referee: Mr R. Hyde

The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation