City's Youngsters Have To Take Their Chances, Says Petty

- Leicester City’s Development Squad were on the losing side in Premier League 2 on Monday
- The Foxes youngsters fell to a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at LCFC Training Ground
- Coach Ben Petty reflected on the Premier League 2 reverse following full-time in Seagrave
- City needed to capitalise on further chances after Tawanda Maswanhise’s early opener, he believes

The home side controlled large parts of the first period, going ahead when Tawanda Maswanhise rocketed in a close-range finish inside the first three minutes at LCFC Training Ground.

However, two quick-fire goals ahead of the break, from Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Harvey White, edged the visitors into the lead and the Lilywhites extended their advantage via Tobi Omole’s strike and a second of the evening for White.

Kasey McAteer then missed a late penalty, though it would not have changed the outcome in Seagrave as Spurs emerged with three points in Premier League 2 Division 1.

“It was a tough night, we knew that would be the case,” Petty admitted in his post-match interview with LCFC TV. “I thought we made a magnificent start to the game. It was exactly what we asked the players for – an aggressive start.

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to sustain that for 90 minutes, but then we had a spell just before half-time and just after half-time of conceding four goals in 19 minutes, which came out of nowhere really and we couldn’t recover from that.

“Obviously, we missed the penalty at the end, which left us with a frustrating night. There was a lot of play there tonight that I was really pleased with, some of it was very good. Three set play goals conceded is a big disappointment to us, but we’re making strides, despite the result.”

Leicester were the team in the ascendency early on before Tottenham managed to swing the game in their favour. Petty was satisfied with the majority of what he saw in the first period and rued missed opportunities that could have seen the hosts establish a more comfortable position.

City’s coach continued: “For the first 37 minutes, I’ve no complaints. I’ve got a young team in there and they are learning all the time. It’s just another building block tonight. We’ve took a step back but overall this season, we’ve been really pleased with them.

“Again, it’s part of their learning that they’ve got to start games well and we showed we could do that tonight.

“It just goes to show you that even at this level in PL2, when you are dominating the game like we were, you have to take your chances and you have to get that second goal and third goal and put the game to bed.

“I think you saw Tottenham’s qualities; they were ruthless tonight. Brad [Young] hasn’t actually had to make too many great saves, but the free-kick just before half-time is a fantastic piece of skill and rather than going in 1-0, you’re going in 2-1 down and then you’re chasing it.”

Petty chose to make five changes to the team defeated by Barrow last time out but stuck with the wing-back system which has been deployed over the last few games. Forward Jake Wakeling was introduced at half-time as the Foxes youngsters switched to a more attacking formation, but was unable to help prevent a first league defeat in four games.

“It was very much a tactical switch,” he explained. “I think the team were crying out for a natural centre forward because Tawanda played as the no.9 in the first half and, although he scored a great goal, I felt he wasn’t in his best position.

“We decided to bring Jake on and sacrifice Bayli [Spencer-Adams], who was having a good game. That just goes to show that we’ve got to be flexible with our squad and lads have got to be ready to come on at all times.”