The Boys Were Excellent, Says Barradell
- Leicester’s Under-18s were 2-0 victors over West Brom last weekend
- Freddie Cook and Reece Evans scored the goals at LCFC Training Ground
- The Foxes face Aston Villa on Saturday (11am kick-off) in Premier League U18
- Coach Adam Barradell believes the competition for places within the squad is high
Freddie Cook scored less than five minutes in, before Reece Evans confirmed victory for City’s youngsters at LCFC Training Ground last weekend.
Picking up their second win in four games, Barradell was keen to give praise to the Foxes for their display against the Baggies.
“I thought the boys were excellent on Saturday and in all phases of the game,” the coach told LCFC.com. “Defensively, to keep West Brom to two penalty box entries was excellent. Then to score two goals as well was pleasing, so all round it was a really good performance.
“It was one of our best displays of the season in terms of all phases of the game, so it was pleasing to see the boys put that together off the back of the defeat against Fulham.”
Achieving what was remarkably their first clean sheet of the season, the coach pointed out how the ability to achieve defensive rigidity has been difficult this season, but back to front, the team worked to get the job done.
“Last season we got a lot of clean sheets,” he admitted. “But this season they have been harder to come by. We talk about them as a group and how important that defensive record can be as the basis for a good performance.
“So, it was good to get a clean sheet, and hopefully we can build on that. But I thought the boys pressed the game extremely well, especially since we had two Under-16s playing from the start.
“Therefore, it was a good performance from a development point of view as well, and it was good for Reece Evans to come on and get a goal.”
With the prospect of individual growth also a key factor, Barradell explained how the inclusion of more players in the squad has led to an increased amount of determination for the players to keep their spot.
“Some individual performances really impressed me, such as Amani Richards on the right-hand side who caused the opposition left-back a real problem throughout the game,” the coach continued. “Ben Grist defensively as well, I thought had a very good game.
“Reece [Evans] came on for the Development Squad (against Wolverhampton Wanderers), which was his first appearance so that was pleasing to see, but he’s just picked up a little injury to his ankle and hopefully it’s nothing too bad going forward for him.
“After the FA Youth Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday I said that we would look to bring Under-16s through to the squad and that’s what we’ve done, and I think the competition is great.
“I’m always saying to the scholars that competition around the squad is the most important thing and to push players on individually, but also collectively as a group and that’s what we’ve been working on since Christmas.
Lifting themselves off bottom spot, Leicester are now 10th in Premier League U18 South, four points clear of 12th having played three less games than the teams below them in the table.
“I think that has changed the fortunes a little bit for us and has given some individuals a bit of a wake-up call, which was needed after the first half of the season,” Barradell stated.
“Obviously no one wanted to be where we were at the start of the season, and we’ve always talked about players going through the pathway into the Development Squad, but a Club like us should be doing well in the league.
The young Foxes are back in action this weekend when they take on Aston Villa, currently 12th in the standings with nine points, on Saturday morning (11am kick-off), and the coach is keen to keep this winning momentum going.
He added: “We want to push forward in the standings, and for the performances to be of a higher standard. To be honest, we want all areas to improve and that’s what we’ll aim for.
“It’s important that we’re looking up, there’s some good games coming up, so it's a really good couple of months to look forward to and hopefully we can build on the performances we’ve had since the turn of the year because there’s been some real positives.”
All times GMT.