Academy v Villa

[Steven]

From the OS.

City's under 18s got back to winning ways on Saturday, Steve Beaglehole's team beating Aston Villa 1-0 in a closely contested match.

A late goal from Eric Odhiambo claimed all three points for Leicester, their fourth victory in six games this season.

It was nip and tuck in the first half though neither side were able to break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes. Both teams had spells of pressure, the visitors' best chances coming from corners while City threatened from open play.

In the 55th minute Max Griddel, playing his first game for the Walkers Academy side since joining the Foxes, danced through the Villa defence and when he eventually made room for a shot was unlucky to see the ball deflected behind for a corner.

Then four minutes later it was Ricky Muggleton's turn to dribble his way into the opposition box, leaving three defenders in his wake, but the striker was unable to get away a strike on goal.

Villa continued to cause problems with their corner routines and managed to hit the bar with a header just after the hour mark.

If either side was to win this game they would need a dose of good fortune and that came Leicester's way when the goalkeeper spilled a Liam Norval cross to present substitute Odhiambo with the easiest of tap-ins.

And Odhiambo nearly made a further impression on the match when his great through ball set up Lawrence Hunter with an opportunity to finish the game off and though the shot went wide in would not affect the result. A last minute save from Karl Pentney on his under 18s debut ensured that City held on for the win.

CITY: Pentney, Norval, Franklin (Hunter 81), Wykes, Lycett (c), Goodwin, McKay, Tejan-Sie, Muggleton, Griddel (Odhiambo 63), Beswick (Matock 74)

Subs (not used): Cisak, Rochester.
Booked: Goodwin 65, Franklin 73.

 

[Graz]

Nice to see them winning again, doing well.

Where was Chambo?

 

[Steven]

Nice to see them winning again, doing well.

Where was Chambo?

Poor lad was probably having a rest.

 

[Babylon]

Poor lad was probably having a rest.

Most of the old academy lads have made the step up to the reserve team now, this is a new batch playing. I'm sure he'll still play for them now and again. Because the squad is smaller the youngsters are progressing through the ranks quicker. Something we never saw under Adams as we would have a reserve team full of 30 year olds.