U21s Report: Leicester City 2 Southampton 1

- Goals from Admiral Muskwe and Joe Dodoo were enough for City to record a third consecutive win 

- The Foxes next take on Chelsea on Friday 11 March at Aldershot Town

Leicester City’s Development Squad recorded a third Barclays U21 Premier League win on the spin after beating Southampton at King Power Stadium on Monday evening. 

The Foxes leapfrogged Southampton in the league table thanks to first half goals from Admiral Muskwe and Joe Dodoo in a game that was fiercely contested from the start. 

Southampton managed to pull one back midway through the second half through Jake Hesketh, but the Saints were largely kept at bay by City.

A number of first teamers benefitted from some valuable game time as Daniel Amartey, Liam Moore and Ben Hamer all played 90 minutes. 

It was who Southampton created the first chance of the game after Armani Little picked up the ball on the edge of the area, but failed to keep his left-footed effort underneath the crossbar. 

City headed into the game in fine form following victories over Manchester City and Sunderland and scored a deserved opener in the 23rd minute. 

Admiral Muskwe pinched the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful drive that beat Paulo Gazzaniga at his near post. 

The Saints went after an immediate equaliser through Hesketh, whose attempted half-volley from an awkward angle narrowly missed the target. 

The Foxes then doubled their lead in the 31st minute thanks to Dodoo’s deflected strike. Captain Jacob Blyth’s superb knock down started the move that culminated in Amartey finding dangerous wingman Dodoo, whose shot cannoned off a defender, beating Gazzaniga in turn. 

The home side nearly rounded off an impressive first half with a third but defender Alfie Jones did well to cut out Dodoo’s dangerous cross at the front post with Blyth lurking in the centre. 

City continued to create chances early in the second half - this time through Blyth’s fierce right-footed effort that stung the fingertips of the Gazzaniga in goal. 

The visitors were beginning to build some pressure and forced Hamer into a fine save low down to his left after Olufela Olomola attempted to register his team’s first goal in 63rd minute. 

Southampton did pull one back two minutes later after Hesketh found space in the box and drilled home to halve his side’s deficit. 

Hamer was once again called into action as he pulled off two superb saves in the space of 10 minutes, denying Sam Gallagher on both occasions. 

The Leicester defence, bolstered by Liam Moore, continued to show why they headed into the game on the back of two consecutive clean sheets, as they repelled several Southampton attacks in the late stages to seal the win. 

The result means City leapfrog Southampton in the league table ahead of a tough trip to Chelsea on Friday 11 March. 

CITY: Hamer, Miles (Johnson 82), Chilwell, Amartey, E. Moore, L. Moore, Muskwe (Rowe 77), Watson, Blyth (c), Cain (Barnes 63), Dodoo 

SUBS NOT USED: Iversen, Trialist

GOALS: Muskwe 23, Dodoo 31

SOUTHAMPTON: Gazzaniga, Bakary, Targett, Reed (c), Cook, Jones, Olomola (N’Lundulu 77), Little, Gallagher, Hesketh, Vokins (Sims 46) 

SUBS NOT USED: Lewis, Willard, Valery 

GOAL: Hesketh 63 

REFEREE: Robert Massey-Ellis