Beaglehole's Pride Despite EFL Trophy Exit

- Steve Beaglehole assesses Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Newport County for Leicester City's Development Squad
- The Foxes were knocked out of the Leasing.com Trophy in the last-eight, their best-ever showing
- Beaglehole praised City's youngsters for a 'fantastic performance in the second half'
- City's Senior Professional Development Phase Coach also credited the winning mentality this season

The Foxes were narrowly beaten 1-0 by their Sky Bet League 2 hosts at Rodney Parade, ending their Leasing.com Trophy journey at the quarter-final stage - the furthest of any U21s side.

Despite defeat, the Club's Senior Professional Development Phase Coach struggled to find fault with the performance, particularly in the second half, and praised the mentality of City's youngsters.

"In the second half, we were absolutely excellent," he told LCFC TV. "I’ve been in youth football for the best part of 40 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of losing a game of this magnitude.

"It was a big game for us because if we’d have won, we had an outstanding fixture at King Power Stadium, which we’ve not had the pleasure of playing on in this trophy.

"If we could get through this, we’re one step away from Wembley. They’re gutted, but I’m gutted too. I’m gutted for the staff, I’m gutted for the lads.

"I thought it was a fantastic performance in the second half, on a difficult pitch. They’re difficult to play against and I’m not knocking them for that because, in the lower leagues, it’s a different kettle of fish.

"They play a way of football that’s been successful and it’s been a great part of our development, this competition. Particularly so tonight and I thought we handled it brilliantly."

Leicester's chance creation was another source of pride for Beaglehole as Luke Thomas, Ali Reghba and George Hirst all went close for the visitors in south Wales.

"We’ve had chances," he added. "We took the game to them. We were brave. We brought players off who were main markers, we put young Terell Pennant on, who we’re really excited about.

"I felt that he might just open the door. We were banging on the door and we couldn’t open it. We’ve had some great chances, really guilt-edged chances, and you need that rub of the green.

"Before the gaffer (Brendan Rodgers) came in, the first team lost here, so you need that rub of the green, but there were some outstanding performances.

"I thought Callum Wright was terrific, Luke Thomas in particular, and Jamo, who’s been out a long time… Matty James, it was a real pleasure to have him around us."

Beaglehole believes the Club's youngsters will take a lot from their experiences in the competition, after beating Grimsby Town, Sunderland, Doncaster Rovers and Tranmere Rovers.

"We’ve played every game away from home," the Under-23s coach continued. "It’s been fantastic for us and it’s really taught us a lot about our players.

"Above all, it’s shown that winning mentality that we’ve got at the Football Club, which the gaffer talks about with the first team, and all the way through.

"We know how important it is to win games and that’s what it’s been about, this competition, because we have won games."