U21s Report: Blackburn Rovers 1 Leicester City 0

- Connor Thomson struck in first-half injury time to win the game for the hosts on Monday 

- City first teamers Ben Hamer and Liam Moore completed 90 minutes, while Matty James completed 30 minutes as part of his preparations for a first team return

- The Development Squad next face Middlesbrough in the Barclays U21 Premier League on Monday 25 January (12pm KO) 

Leicester City’s Development Squad exited the U21 Premier League Cup at the round of 16 stage following a narrow defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Monday afternoon at Brockhall Village. 

Connor Thomson’s strike in first-half injury time proved to be enough for last year’s beaten finalists, despite the Foxes creating a number of good opportunities in each half against a Blackburn side that featured four players that faced City’s Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup last week. 

The game saw first teamers Ben Hamer and Liam Moore complete 90 minutes, while midfielder Matty James completed 30 minutes as part of his preparations for a first team return. 

City sealed their round of 16 spot with a 5-2 win at Stoke City in November, while Blackburn beat Lancashire rivals Burnley 3-1 after extra-time at the same stage. 

The hosts started well. With just three minutes gone, defender Elliott Moore blocked Connor Mahoney’s effort, before Anton Forrester side-footed wide shortly after. 

James registered City’s first major effort of the game on 16 minutes as he sliced wide under pressure from the edge of the box, while Andrew Fisher was on hand to deny Admiral Muskwe from a tight angle just moments later. 

Fisher then made two good saves in quick succession in the first period, collecting Admiral Muskwe’s low drive with ease before denying Harry Panayiotou on 34 minutes. 

A simply superb run from Danny Rowe followed just moments later as the winger cut inside from the right wing and skipped past two players, only to see his strike blocked deep in the Blackburn box. 

A flurry of chances followed for the Foxes as Elliott Moore saw his header cleared off the line, before follow-ups from Muskwe and Liam Moore were blocked. 

Blackburn first teamer Simeon Jackson then fired wide while one-on-one with Hamer, but Blackburn did go on to open the scoring in first-half injury time. 

Striker Jackson burst down the right wing and squared the ball to Thomson, who made no mistakes from close range to give his side the lead at the break.

Rankin-Costello, who scored a brace against City’s Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup last week, then volleyed over from 25 yards 10 minutes into the second half. 

A chance for St. Kitts and Nevis international Panayiotou followed, but he couldn’t quite nod in Jack Barmby’s superb delivery from the left flank. 

Substitute Michael Cain was introduced on 70 minutes and made an immediate impact as he lifted a fine pass into the path of Joe Dodoo, who hammered a powerful half-volley into the side-netting from a difficult angle as City continued their pursuit of an equaliser. 

Ryan Watson went close with a curling effort from the edge of the box as the full-time whistle fast approached, while Muskwe created the last significant opportunity for the Foxes, firing into the palms of shot-stopper Fisher in the late stages. 

Edged out of the U21 Premier League Cup, City will now resume their Barclays U21 Premier League campaign with a fixture against Middlesbrough at Belvoir Drive on Monday 25 January (12pm kick-off). 

BLACKBURN: Fisher, Nyambe, Askwe, Petshi, Lavelle (c), Wharton, Mahoney (Carson 78), Rankin-Costello, Forrester, Jackson, Thomson 

SUBS NOT USED: Tanner, Crump, Green, Mansell 

GOAL: Thomson 45 

CITY: Hamer, Watson (c), Johnson, McCourt, E. Moore, L. Moore, Dodoo, James (Barmby 31), Panayiotou, Muskwe (King 84), Rowe (Cain 70) 

SUBS NOT USED: Miles, Smith-Varnham 

REFEREE: Scott Oldham