Petty: A Great Experience For The Lads

- Leicester City's Development Squad have qualified for the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy for the second consecutive season
- A 3-1 comeback victory away at Grimsby Town sealed the progression for the Foxes on Tuesday evening
- Ben Petty spoke to LCFC TV after Callum Wright, Sidnei Tavares and Admiral Muskwe scored the goals to turn the game around
- The way in which Leicester responded to going a goal down against a senior league side pleased Petty, as focus now returns to Premier League 2

City assured qualification for the last 32 of the Papa John's Trophy following Tuesday night's win against the Sky Bet League 2 side at Blundell Park.

Petty was happy to see the youngsters take on board the half-time instructions and put in a much improved display to convincingly take all three points. 

"We were disappointed with our performance in the first half," he admitted to LCFC TV. "We didn't feel as though we've got hold of the ball enough.

Gallery 10 Nov 2020

Grimsby Town 1 Leicester City Development Squad 3

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"We had a few words at half-time and said to the lads they needed to get hold of the ball and make more passes and open Grimsby up.

"I think, as you saw in the second half, our midfield players really started to get on the drops, we started affecting the game, impacting the game.

"Obviously we created a lot of chances and our forward players started coming into the game and that's what we want.

"We want to play in the opposition's half and we're delighted with three goals and it looks like it's put us through."

Callum Wright and Sidnei Tavares both scored within three second half minutes - the latter with a superbly taken free-kick - to turn the game on its head, before Admiral Muskwe bundled home a decisive third for the visitors.

"We want our flair players to get on the ball and I think Callum's [Wright] goal got us going and we know he [Sidnei Tavares] has got that in his locker," Petty continued.

"He did that in the last game against Wolves, we've got plenty of lads who can take good set plays and fortunately tonight, Sidnei's has just crept in at the near post.

"We are [pleased] and it's important for the lads, it gives them another opportunity to play against a team at this level. It goes to show them where they could possibly go out on loan.

"The level that they're aspiring to, the Premier League, it is much higher than it is tonight. No disrespect to Grimsby, they gave us a fantastic game tonight and it was good for the lads, it's great experience for them."

The Foxes had not played a competitive fixture since beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in Premier League 2 on 23 October and Petty hopes to take the latest performance into their next league fixture.

And while they will also be aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Papa John's Trophy for the second season running, they are now firmly turning their attention across to facing West Ham United at King Power Stadium on Monday 23 November (7pm GMT kick-off).

"We're focusing now on the league and hopefully a nice second round cup game," he added. "We've managed to tick over, we've had a couple of good friendlies and it's important that the lads keep their match fitness.

"And we've got a really important game against West Ham now in PL2 at home, which is our first home fixture, so we're looking forward to that."