U21s Report: Leicester City 2 Reading 1

- Goals from Nathan Dyer and Jak McCourt put the Foxes 2-0 up, before Rowan Liburd struck late on for Reading 

- Dyer, Andrej Kramarić and Yohan Benalouane all played 90 minutes in the victory

Leicester City’s Development Squad beat high-flying Reading at Belvoir Drive on Monday to earn their second Barclays U21 Premier League win of the season. 

After a goalless first half, City upped their tempo and went ahead through Nathan Dyer, who converted at the back post six minutes into the second period. 

City’s persistence told again five minutes later, as Jak McCourt pinched the ball off Jake Cooper before slotting in past goalkeeper Stuart Moore. 

Reading pulled one back with a minute to play through Rowan Liburd, but City saw the game out with a resilient defensive display late on. 

Reading were in fine form heading into the game having lost just once all season and beat Norwich City 2-0 at the Madejski Stadium in their last U21 Premier League fixture.

Meanwhile, the Foxes were boosted by the involvement of three first teamers as Andrej Kramarić, Yohan Benalouane and Nathan Dyer all played 90 minutes in the win. 

It was Kramarić who had the first real opportunity of the game as the Croatia international forward dropped a shoulder to beat his marker before firing into the side-netting on 13 minutes. 

Dyer was next to go close for the Foxes after the tricky winger saw his shot blocked, while at the other end, Benalouane did well to nod away from Liburd at the front post. 

Reading continued to threaten as Sami Fridjonsson struck wide from 25 yards, before Andrija Novakovich was denied from close range. 

Goalless at half-time, it took City just six minutes to break the deadlock as Dyer made a perfectly-timed run at the far post before hammering in from close range. 

Kramarić saw an effort deflect into the hands of Reading shot-stopper Moore shortly after, but the Foxes wouldn’t have to wait much longer for their second goal. 

Good pressing from McCourt saw the central midfielder win the ball 20 yards out and side-foot in past Moore to make it 2-0 on 57 minutes. 

St. Kitts and Nevis international Harry Panayiotou then drilled straight at Moore, while McCourt miscued from the edge of the box as the hosts looked for a third goal. 

The visiting side did pull one back with a minute to play through Liburd, before Cooper fired over from deep inside the City box as Reading tried to snatch an unlikely point. 

It was a thoroughly deserved win for the Foxes, who will now turn their attentions to Wednesday 2 December’s decisive Premier League International Cup clash with Villarreal at King Power Stadium. 

CITY: Trialist, Sesay, Barmby (Johnson 89), McCourt (c), Moore, Benalouane, Trialist (Miles 85), Panayiotou, Kramarić, Cain, Dyer 

SUBS NOT USED: Bramley, Fox, Rowe 

GOALS: Dyer 52, McCourt 57 

READING: Moore, Keown (Owusu 70), Griffin, Shaugnessy, Cooper, Sweeney (c), Barrett (Hyam 70), Fridjonsson, Liburd, Kelly, Novakovich (Semedo 75) 

SUBS NOT USED: Ward, Rhinomoto 

GOAL: Liburd 89 

REFEREE: Ben Cooke