A Really Strong Away Performance, Says Petty
- Leicester City’s Development Squad drew 0-0 with Brighton & Hove Albion
- The Foxes could not find a way through on the south coast last Saturday
- Coach Ben Petty gave his verdict on the Premier League 2 stalemate
- An improved defensive display was one of the most pleasing aspects for Petty
The young Foxes added another point to their league total on Saturday, following a goalless stalemate at the AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre.
While pleased to earn a clean sheet, City’s coach was left wondering what might have been had they looked more clinical and taken several opportunities on the south coast.
Now on eight points from their nine PL2 matches so far this term, it caps off a positive week having beaten Burnley in the Premier League Cup last Monday.
“I’m really pleased with the team,” Petty reflected. “They did really well. We had three or four clear cut chances to win it and were really unfortunate not to. On another day, we probably should have had two or three goals.
“Arlo [Doherty] did really well against Burnley on Monday but Brad [Young], as the senior ‘keeper, came back into the team and performed really well. It was a really strong performance from the backline and it gave the lads in front a real chance to go out there and play.
“It was a young team out there. Logan [Briggs] and Jayden Joseph both started the game and did terrifically well. We’ve still got some of the more senior players to come back in and then Ben Nelson and JT (Tawanda Maswanhise) have been involved with the First Team recently, but the team feels more settled.”
Bringing the Under-21s’ competitive fixtures to an end for this calendar year, the 46-year-old also assessed the campaign to date, adding that the break may be beneficial with the return of several key players on the horizon in the next month, prior to playing Newcastle United in Seagrave on Monday 8 January.
He explained: “I just feel over the last three or four games, the stats and the data suggests that the team are really progressing and we’re getting to grips with the league and the cup competitions now.
“It’s been a really good few weeks and we’re looking to push on after Christmas and looking forward to a strong second half of the season. We’re reasonably pleased. I don’t think we’re pleased with the results we’ve had, but the performances have been gradually improving.
“The squad has been really stretched and there’s been a lot of young players bloodied into the team, but I think that only bodes well for the future and hopefully it gives the Manager (Enzo Maresca) some more players to choose from if they’re required. We’re also welcoming back some of our long-term injuries.
“We’re certainly hoping to get Wanya [Marçal] and Will Alves back in January and you forget that we haven’t had Oli Ewing and Sammy Braybrooke yet this season, as well as Shane Flynn and Iestyn Hughes.”