U21s Report: City 4 Reading 1

Blyth’s bullet header from Australian full-back Callum Elder’s cross had opened the scoring for a City side that included the returning duo of Sean St Ledger and Tom Hopper, but Harry Cardwell levelled just before the break for the visitors. 

It was all City in the second half however – Blyth notching with his left foot, right foot and head to complete a perfect second half hat-trick and move City level on points with eighth placed West Ham in the league table. 

Afterwards Development Squad boss Steve Beaglehole told : “He (Jacob Blyth) is a finisher. We see it in training and he’s certainly the best finisher in that group. I was delighted with him, and also delighted to see Tom Hopper back playing after injury. 

“He was unlucky not to score tonight, but he’s so unselfish and that sums up this team. 

“Sean St Ledger did well for us as well on his comeback. He played 70 minutes and he’s been great whenever he’s played with us. 

“He showed his experience as an international player and had a great attitude about him, as did Conrad Logan, who is great with the young players.” 

It was a high intensity opening to the match, with both sides looking bright in possession, but there were few chances as a Michael Cain corner flashed across the six-yard box for City, catching out everybody. 

The returning Hopper then managed to pull a few step overs from his box of tricks shortly afterwards, but Blyth’s sweeping finish from his cross was stopped on the line. 

As the half went on it was City who went through the gears quickest. First Cain displayed typically impressive technique to fire a stunning volley from 25 yards that was tipped wide by Stuart Moore. 

Then on 22 minutes, City struck clinically to take the lead. Cain slid Elder in on the left flank, whose first time cross homed in on the run of Blyth to the near post, where he was able to glance the ball past the goalkeeper for 1-0. 

Hopper fired over from a one-on-one for the Foxes, who looked well in control apart from a snapshot from Cardwell, which was dealt with comfortably by skipper Conrad Logan. 

They were made to pay for missed opportunities though with Reading’s second chance of the game on 37 minutes. Tariqe Fosu-Henry got the better of Kieran Kennedy on the City right, and cut back to Cardwell in the middle, who finished low and hard at the second attempt. 

Joe Dodoo came on for Marcel Barrington at half time as the Foxes emerged all guns blazing – Blyth powering a header wide from Cain’s cross and Ryan Watson forcing Moore into a smart save. 

A second goal for City finally arrived 10 minutes into the second period, and it was again the combination of Elder and Blyth – this time the latter diverting the Australian’s cross into the far corner with a first time left foot finish. 

The Foxes threw bodies forward and were able to create a host of chances with relative ease, but Reading were stubborn and refused to be breached further. 

Blyth and Dodoo then shared a couple of chances before City finally gave themselves a two-goal cushion with 15 minutes left. 

Dodoo was alert to a poor pass from Reading’s Jake Cooper to steal in a play a pass into a grateful Blyth, who headed home to complete an impressive treble. 

But the striker wasn’t done there, as with just five minutes to go he popped up with yet another goal – pulling the trigger on Harry Panayiotou’s cross with his right foot, handing the Foxes a handsome 4-1 victory. 

CITY: Logan (c), Kennedy, Elder, Watson, St Ledger (Anton 71), Taft, Panayiotou, Cain, Blyth, Hopper (McCourt 88), Barrington (Dodoo 46) 

SUBS NOT USED: Smith, Dawson 

GOALS: Blyth 22, 54, 76, 85 

READING: Moore, Keown, Griffin, Long, Cooper, Morrison, Stacey, Murombedzi (Shaughnessy 88), Cardwell (Taylor-Crossdale 74), Kelly, Fosu-Henry (Owusu 88) 

SUBS NOT USED: Hyam, Lincoln 

GOAL: Cardwell 37 

REFEREE: Ivar Orri Krisjansson