U21s Report: Fulham 1 Leicester City 3

The Foxes were 2-0 up within nine minutes thanks to strikes from Jak McCourt and Harry Panayiotou, before Patrick Roberts pulled one back for the hosts just before the break.
And as Fulham went in search of an equaliser, it was Anthony Knockaert who grabbed a third for City from the penalty spot, sending Leicester home with three points.
Steve Beaglehole’s side were boosted by the influence of first-teamers Knockaert and Tom Lawrence and were captained by right-back James Pearson.
Leicester had already faced Fulham in the league in September, but despite carving out a handful of goalscoring chances, it was the Cottagers who recorded a 2-0 win at King Power Stadium on that day.
Knowing a win in London could move City as high as eighth in the table, it was Knockaert who mustered up the first opportunity of the game. The lively winger cut in from the right flank before firing over with his left foot with two minutes on the clock.
It was a bright start from the Foxes, who were keen to capitalise on their chances. McCourt, who looked a threat throughout, curled a superb strike in past goalkeeper Magnus Norman on six minutes to open the scoring.
And just three minutes later, City had doubled their lead. Good work down the left from Jack Barmby saw the winger swing the ball into Panayiotou, who calmly side-footed in to make it 2-0.
A neat one-two between Lawrence and Knockaert saw the former find space in the area on 22 minutes, but shot-stopper Norman came off his line quickly to smother the ball.
Teasing crosses from Barmby and Joe Dodoo were cut out by Fernando Amorebieta as City looked for a third, while at the other end, Joe Davis stood strong to deny Ange-Freddy Plumain’s effort.
The hosts pulled one back on 36 minutes. City couldn’t clear Plumain’s dangerous cross and Roberts hammered in the loose ball past Adam Smith from 12 yards.
Fulham were just inches away from levelling the score three minutes after their first goal. Jack Grimmer rattled Smith’s crossbar before Barmby dispossessed Plumain, who looked to slot in the rebound – 2-1 to City at the break.
An early second-half chance for the visitors fell to Simonas Stankevicius. The Lithuanian international hit an effort towards goal, only for captain Jonathan Buatu to block the frontman’s shot.
Knockaert then fired a 20-yard free kick over Fulham’s wall, but couldn’t beat ‘keeper Norman, who collected the Frenchman’s effort with ease on 52 minutes.
Ryan Williams tried his luck from range but couldn’t hit the target, while at the other end, Norman halted Panayiotou’s surging run.
City restored their two-goal advantage with 18 minutes to go. Substitute Ben Chilwell was upended in the Fulham box and Knockaert slotted in from the spot to make it 3-1 to Beaglehole’s side.
Fulham tried to orchestrate a late siege on Smith’s goal, but a combination of hard work and composure from the visitors meant there was no way through for the men in white.
Up next for the Foxes is a testing U21 Premier League trip to high-flying Chelsea on Friday 6 March.
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
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
REFEREE: Mr R. Hyde