U21s Report: Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1

First-teamers Anthony Knockaert and Liam Moore both notched up valuable game time, while midfielder Dean Hammond played over an hour following his recovery from a calf problem. 

The opposition fielded a talented side of their own, with Rafael, Jonny Evans, Tyler Blackett, Adnan Januzaj and Robin van Persie all starting the game. 

It was a fixture that had plenty riding on it. While City were hoping to knock the Manchester outfit off the top of the league, the visitors could move four points clear of second place with a win. 

Leicester were pushed all the way last time out, beating Everton on penalties to qualify for the semi-final of the Premier League International Cup. 

Hoping to cement their spot at the top of the table, the first chance of the game went to the visitors, as James Wilson’s close-range effort was blocked by defender Joe Davis. 

In a superb move, City came just inches away from opening the scoring. Jak McCourt fired a 50-yard pin-point pass to Ben Chilwell, whose delivery could only be cleared to Jack Barmby. The former Manchester United man took a touch before hammering an effort just over the bar. 

The width of Joe Dodoo and Knockaert caused the Red Devils no end of problems, and it was the latter who would set up the first goal. 

The Frenchman supplied a cross from the right flank for Panayiotou, who converted from four yards to put City 1-0 up with 18 minutes gone. 

McCourt then threatened from distance, controlling well before hitting a half-volley that forced Joel Pereira into a good low save. 

Adam Smith was next called into action, palming Wilson’s curling effort to safety as the game approached the half-hour mark. 

The men in red equalised on 32 minutes. Despite halting the initial danger of van Persie, Goss picked up the loose ball and wriggled through before slotting in past Smith to level the score up at 1-1. 

Shortly after, McCourt had to throw himself in the way of van Persie’s curling 25-yard strike as the visitors looked for the lead just before the break. 

Smith pulled off two fine saves in first half injury-time, first denying van Persie before stopping Evans’ header from the resulting corner – all square after 45 minutes. 

A neat exchange between Dodoo and Panayiotou saw the latter force Pereira into another good stop, while at the other end, Davis was on hand to prevent substitute Liam Grimshaw from getting his shot off. 

Davis stood firm again, this time blocking Wilson’s low drive, before substitute James Weir blasted over Smith’s crossbar from the edge of the box. 

Knockaert then fired a 25-yard free kick towards goal, but couldn’t generate the desired power to beat Pereira, who collected comfortably. 

A well-weighted pass from Knockaert to Panayiotou played in the St. Kitts and Nevis international, who dragged his shot across the face of goal, narrowly avoiding Dodoo at the back post. 

Wilson burst through late on, but after controlling well, the striker fired wide under pressure from Moore. 

Smith, who proved to be the hero in the penalty shoot-out against Everton last time out, then made an excellent point-blank save to deny Wilson at the death. 

Leicester next face a testing trip to Liverpool on Monday 4 May – a game that could see Beaglehole’s side move top of the U21 Premier League with a victory. 

CITY: Smith, Sesay (c), Chilwell, McCourt, Davis, Moore, Knockaert, Barmby (Rowley 74), Panayiotou, Hammond (Stankevicius 68), Dodoo 

SUBS NOT USED: Miles, Maddison, Scott 

GOAL: Panayiotou 18 

MAN UTD: Pereira, Rafael (Grimshaw 44), Blackett, Thorpe (c), Kellet, Evans, Love, Goss, Wilson, van Persie (Weir 62), Januzaj (Harrop 54) 

SUBS NOT USED: O’Hara, Fletcher 

GOAL: Goss 32 

ATTENDANCE: 2,747 

REFEREE: Simon Barrow