U21s Report: Leicester City 3 Bristol City 1

- Michael Cain nets free kick as Development Squad record fifth win in six games 

- Steve Beaglehole’s outfit kick-off 2015/16 season against Manchester United on Monday 

Leicester City’s Development Squad benefited from some more pre-season minutes on Tuesday afternoon, coming from behind to beat Bristol City at a windy Belvoir Drive. 

The Foxes were 1-0 down with just seven minutes gone after midfielder Joe Morrell converted from range with a powerful drive, but just seconds later, the hosts were level thanks to Jacob Blyth’s header. 

Midfielder Michael Cain, who spent last season on loan at Walsall, then dispatched a fine free kick from 20 yards to put City into the lead for the first time in the game. 

Blyth struck again just after the break, firing in on 52 minutes to extend his side’s lead, securing a fifth win in six pre-season friendly fixtures for the Foxes. 

The game saw a total of 16 players notch up some minutes ahead of Monday’s Barclays U21 Premier League season-opener against Manchester United, who finished as champions last campaign. 

After an even start, it was the visiting side that would take the lead through Morrell, who picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and drilled in a low effort on seven minutes. 

But the Foxes responded immediately. Good work down the right wing from Harry Panayiotou saw the St. Kitts and Nevis forward deliver into Blyth, who nodded in at the front post to level the game up. 

Winger Joe Dodoo, who scored a hat-trick against Loughborough Dynamo earlier in pre-season, then latched onto a neat pass, but side-footed straight at goalkeeper Max O'Leary. 

Panayiotou continued to cause problems for the Bristol City defence, and on 20 minutes, the striker won a free kick on the edge of the box that Cain curled into the top corner to make it 2-1 to Steve Beaglehole’s side. 

Wideman Connor Lemonhaigh-Evans looked to get his side back on level terms on the half-hour mark, hammering Jonny Maddison’s crossbar from close range. 

Morrell threatened again shortly before the break, firing a free kick over from a difficult angle, while Cain lifted Callum Elder’s cross over the bar to bring the first period to an end. 

With just seven minutes of the second half gone, Blyth doubled his side’s lead with a well-taken goal. The powerful striker shrugged off his marker on the edge of the box before applying a neat finish to make it 3-1. 

Dodoo crafted another opportunity shortly after, slipping in winger Jack Barmby, who saw his shot blocked, before the resulting corner was turned over by Elder at the back post. 

Substitute Brandon Fox forced O’Leary into another good save on 62 minutes, while Layton Ndukwu’s trickery saw the England youth international shimmy past two defenders, eventually having his low shot stopped again. 

City pushed for a fourth goal, and came close to getting one through Panayiotou, who lashed an effort just inches wide of the Bristol City upright – an action that proved to be the last significant one of the game. 

With some more valuable minutes under the majority of the Development Squad players' belts, the Foxes will now gear up for their 2015/16 Barclays U21 Premier League season opener against Manchester United at King Power Stadium on Monday 10 August (7pm kick-off). 

CITY: Maddison, Miles (Davis 46), Elder (Panayiotou 76), McCourt (c) (Choudhury 4), Moore, Davis (Sesay 33), Barmby (Fox 60) Cain, Blyth, Panayiotou (Ndukwu 46), Dodoo (Stankevicius 60) 

SUBS NOT USED: Smith-Varnham 

GOALS: Blyth 8, 52, Cain 20