Our Poor Start Cost Us, Says Dewsbury-Hall

- Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall analyses Thursday’s UEFA Europa League loss to Napoli
- The Foxes were beaten 3-2 and exited the competition
- Dewsbury-Hall scored his first goal for the Club in the loss

His first goal for the Foxes, which restored parity in Naples, ultimately counted for nothing after Brendan Rodgers' side came from 2-0 down before conceding a third, decisive goal.

That result meant Leicester will compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time, and while more European football will come in 2022, Dewsbury-Hall admitted his team-mates were downbeat at full-time.

“It’s hard to put into words at the moment because me and the rest of the team are really upset in there,” he told LCFC TV. “We knew it was in our hands to go into the next round and it’s annoying that we didn’t defend as well as we can and we have to score three or four goals to get the win.

“It’s hard to do, you can’t do that week in, week out. It’s so disappointing because we went 2-0 down and we got back into the game and it’s just sloppy to concede a third goal.

“Then, you know that they’ll just drop deep and soak up the pressure. We had a lot of the ball in the second half, but it’s hard to break them down when they’ve got a bank of five and four, so it’s really upsetting.”

The Academy graduate felt City’s defending in the first period left them with a difficult challenge after the hosts claimed a two-goal advantage.

“It was a poor start going 2-0 down, but it wasn’t the way we wanted to start the game,” he continued. “It was great character to go back and score two goals in quick succession and going into half-time drawing.

“It was a good response from the team, and then you have to build on that into the second half. It’s disappointing to concede two goals and we need to build on that and be strong at the back and then score a couple more.

“The fact we didn’t do that is the most frustrating thing. It was in our hands, but now we’re out.”

Nevertheless, the No.22’s maiden Leicester goal will be one he will remember, not least because of the excellent manner in which it arrived - a sweet, left-footed volley that sailed into the bottom corner of the net.

He added: “It was a good strike. It’s just so bittersweet because I’d have substituted that goal to go through tonight. It’s good personally, but it’s more about the team and I want to go through.

“At that time in the game, we were really confident getting that second goal because then we’ve got momentum. On a personal level, it was a nice strike. I’m happy with it and I hope I get some more, but I’d rather we’d have gone through to the knockouts.”