U21s Report: Leicester City 1 Everton 1

- Midfielder Conor Grant gave Everton a first half lead with a strike from distance 

- Defender Callum Elder equalised nine minutes from time to earn a point for his side 

A late goal from defender Callum Elder secured Leicester City’s Development Squad a Barclays U21 Premier League point against Everton at King Power Stadium on Monday evening. 

It was an even start to a game in which both sides were looking for their first victory of the 2015/16 season. Midfielder Michael Cain rattled the Everton upright in the first half, but it was the visting side who would take the lead. 

Midfielder Conor Grant picked up the ball in midfield for the Toffees before converting from range to give his side the lead just before the break. 

City rallied, and with just nine minutes to play, they drew level. Hamza Choudhury did well down the right before setting up Australian youth international Callum Elder, who converted at the back post to earn a point for his side. 

The heavy rainfall made for tough conditions at King Power Stadium, where defender Joe Davis had to be on hand early on to halt the threat of Sam Byrne and David Henen. 

It took a good save from City’s goalkeeper to keep the score level on 20 minutes, with the shot-stopper tipping Joe Williams’ effort from distance round the post. 

The Foxes came close themselves two minutes later when Jack Barmby delivered a free kick from the right wing that Mateusz Hewelt punched away, preventing Michael Cain from nodding in from inside the box. 

Simonas Stankevicus next threatened as the Lithuania international curled an effort wide of the mark midway through the first period. 

The two sides traded blows, with Cain first firing over from the edge of the box, before Henen side-footed Michael Donohue’s cross over the bar. 

City had their best chance of the first half on 37 minutes. A lovely one-two between Stankevicius and Barmby saw the latter find Cain, who struck Hewelt’s upright from 10 yards. 

Everton took the lead just two minutes later as Grant produced a fine 25 yard drive that nestled in the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors. 

Davis did have the chance to equalise just before the break, but nodded wide under pressure – 1-0 to Everton at half-time. 

It took some solid defending from City to ensure they didn’t fall two goals behind just after the restart. First, Elder put in a fine last-ditch challenge on Grant, before Elliott Moore threw himself in the way of the follow up. 

The visitors remained resilient in defence and it proved to be a tough task for City to draw level, bit they did just that with nine minutes to play. Choudhury cut inside from the right and set up Elder, who hammered in from a difficult angle to equalise. 

Efforts from Barmby and skipper Jak McCourt then followed, before substitute Keenan King was denied a winning goal following a point blank save from Hewelt. 

A long range effort from Everton captain Williams clipped the bar in injury time, while an ambitious volley from Choudhury flew over, bringing the game to an end. 

The Foxes next head to Southampton on Monday 14 September, before a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium a week later. 

CITY: Trialist, Sesay (Miles 80), Elder, Choudhury, Davis, Moore, McCourt (c), Cain, Stankevicius (Fox 71), Barmby, Ndukwu (King 56) 

SUBS NOT USED: Smith-Varnham, Rowe 

GOAL: Elder 81 

EVERTON: Hewelt, Jones, Yates, Ledson, Graham, Connolly, Grant, Williams (c), Byrne, Henen (Charsley 66), Donohue (Evans 46) 

SUBS NOT USED: Walsh, Griffiths, Bainbridge 

GOAL: Grant 39 

ATTENDANCE: 1,498 

REFEREE: Ben Cooke