Petty Delighted With City’s Youngsters

- Leicester City’s Development Squad were held to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Friday
- Ben Petty reacted to picking up a point at Selhurst Park
- City’s coach praised the players’ efforts after a tough run of form
- It was Leicester’s final Premier League 2 Division 1 fixture of the year

City’s Under-21s came away from Selhurst Park having claimed a hard fought draw on the road, as the Premier League 2 Division 1 clash finished goalless to end a run of four straight defeats.  

The players’ application pleased Petty, who felt the visitors looked the more likely side to win the game, but had to settle for a point which keeps the side 12th in the standings.

“We were terrific,” the coach told LCFC TV after full-time in south London. “I’m really proud of the players. We’ve had a difficult few weeks and we’re very young, with five scholars in the side the last games.

“I thought to a man we defended brilliantly, and we could have nicked it. I’m delighted with the lads and I think they are delighted with their efforts as well. I thought our style of play was really good tonight.

“Our compactness out of possession was really good too and we’ve been working really hard on that on the training pitch. It hadn’t come off in the last few games but tonight is going to give us a lot of belief and hopefully we can kick on in the second half of the season.”

There were impressive performances from front to back, with a clean sheet achieved in the league for the first time since late August, and plenty of chances created at the other end against a side sitting in the upper echelons of the PL2 table.

Petty continued: “C (Chituru Odunze) hasn’t had a shot to save which is credited to the boys in front of him. I thought the strikers were magnificent tonight. They had a lot of work out of possession, they worked manfully, and they really helped the back five.

“Sammy [Braybrooke] and Brandon [Cover] were excellent in there as well. It was a real team effort. We sometimes need to pinch ourselves with Will [Alves]. He’s still a scholar, he’s 17 years-old and he was outstanding tonight, he really was as an outlet for the team.

“He’s a special talent. We’ve got to teach him the game and he’s got a long way to go. But out of possession tonight he was much better and like all the lads, he is working hard on the training pitch and I’m very pleased with them.”

Although the league campaign does not resume until the New Year, the young Foxes have a Premier League International Cup assignment to come on Wednesday, facing Valencia Under-21s in a 7pm GMT kick-off at LCFC Training Ground.

“We’ve got a few months now before the next league game,” he added. “We’re looking forward to it. We’ve got Porto to play as well and Celtic. It’s a terrific competition for the lads to be in and a different challenge to the league.

“The league has been very tough this year and it’s going to be a big challenge [in the] second half of the season for sure.”