U21s Report: City 0-2 Fulham

Deadline day signings Nick Powell and Tom Lawrence started the game while Matty James played 66 minutes in his recovery from a shin injury, having had a full week of training last week.
Fulham, who beat Everton 2-1 last time out, sat sixth in the league going into the game having maintained an unbeaten start to the season, while City were fresh off their 4-2 win in the Westerby Cup Winners’ Cup final against Blaby & Whetstone last week.
With City manager Nigel Pearson in attendance, the hosts had a great chance in the first minute when Zoumana Bakayogo crossed for Tom Hopper, who headed into the side netting from close range.
Lawrence then burst through the Fulham midfield on 14 minutes, beating two men before striking from 25 yards – his low drive just inches wide.
Adam Smith then halted the visitors’ frontline, coming out to good effect and collecting the ball well when Marcello Trotta looked to have a chance to open the scoring.
Despite having the majority of play in the first half, Fulham went ahead after hitting the Foxes on the break with Freddy Plumain playing in Tom Richards, who slotted underneath Smith to make it 1-0 on 26 minutes.
A curling long-range effort from Lawrence looked to be heading in just moments later but skipper Jack Grimmer got his head in the way to deny the former Manchester United man.
Powell could have netted the equaliser just before half time, but his acrobatic over-head kick flew wide of Marek Rodak’s upright.
City looked for an immediate reply after the break with an early second half effort from substitute Michael Cain flying just wide after good work from Powell.
A 30-yard free kick from Jack Barmby then hammered the crossbar on 52 minutes, rebounding to Lawrence who couldn’t keep his shot down.
But the London side doubled their lead just two minutes later, goalscorer Richards turning provider, crossing for defender Stephen Arthurworrey who nodded in from close range.
A superb long-range pass from substitute Jak McCourt found Hopper, who controlled well but had his shot blocked deep in the area.
Cain found some space on the edge of the Fulham box with eight minutes to go, but hit his strike directly at Rodak who gathered well.
A powerful drive from distance from Lawrence then forced the Fulham No.1 into a good save just a minute from time.
But City couldn’t break the resolute Fulham back four, suffering their second defeat of the season.
They travel to Norwich on Friday looking to claim their first three points of the campaign but have games in hand on several of their league opponents.
CITY: Smith, Pearson, Bakayogo (Elder 23), Rowley (Cain 46), Sesay (c), Kennedy, Barmby, James (McCourt 66), Hopper, Powell, Lawrence
SUBS NOT USED: Maddison, Panayiotou
FULHAM: Rodak, Passley, Evans, Sambou, Arthurworrey, Grimmer (c) (Sheckleford 46), Tu Na Bangna (O’Halloran 75), Della Verde, Trotta, Plumain (De La Torre 68), Richards
SUBS NOT USED: Norman, Baba
GOALS: Richards 26, Arthurworrey 54
REFEREE: Oliver Yates