U21s Report: Nike Academy 0 Leicester City 2

- Beaglehole fields youthful side at St. George’s Park 

- Rowe breaks deadlock with neat finish on 70 minutes 

- Fox doubles his side’s lead with a superb strike from range 

Leicester City’s Development Squad recorded a third consecutive pre-season friendly win with a battling performance against the Nike Academy at St. George’s Park on Saturday. 

Manager Steve Beaglehole fielded a young side at the home of England’s national team, giving those who have made the step up into the Under-21s a chance to show what they can do ahead of the 2015/16 season. 

After a goalless first half that included chances for Simonas Stankevicius and Danny Rowe, the latter would eventually open the scoring, finishing off a fine move on 70 minutes. 

Then, Brandon Fox, operating at left back in this fixture, hammered in an unstoppable shot from range to secure a 2-0 win for the Foxes.

Striker Stankevicius had two opportunities early on, first clipping Fox’s low cross just over the bar on eight minutes, before coming just inches away from converting Hamza Choudhury’s ball in from the right. 

Forward Keenan King then did well to head away a dangerous free kick, while goalkeeper Max Smith-Varnham got down to make a comfortable save moments later. 

The best chance of the half fell to Rowe, who latched onto Choudhury’s through-ball and side-footed over the bar seven minutes before the break. 

Smith-Varnham was forced into another stop on 40 minutes, holding 20-yard free kick with ease, before Choudhury lashed an effort wide of the mark as the first half came to a close. 

City upped their performance after half-time, with centre back Conor Anderson first coming close to breaking the deadlock with a header that looped just over the crossbar. 

On 53 minutes, Rowe did have the ball in the back of the net after slotting in King’s cross, but the winger’s goal was disallowed for offside. 

The lively Rowe threatened again on 66 minutes, curling a 25-yard free kick just over the bar as City started to increase their intent. 

A quick exchange of passes finally led to the opening goal, with Rowe this time breaking the offside trap and racing through onto a neat pass before slotting in with 20 minutes to play. 

The Foxes then doubled their lead seven minutes later through Fox, who unleashed a ferocious strike with his left foot into the top corner from distance. 

A half-chance fell to Stankevicius late on, but the Lithuania international saw his shot blocked as City searched for a third goal. 

The result saw Beaglehole’s outfit record their third win on the bounce following convincing victories over Derby County and Loughborough Dynamo in recent weeks. 

Leicester next head to Corby Town’s Steel Park on Saturday 1 August (2pm kick-off) as they conclude their pre-season schedule before their 2015/16 Barclays U21 Premier League opener against Manchester United at King Power Stadium on Monday 10 August (7pm kick-off). 

CITY: Smith-Varnham, Choudhury, Fox, Scott, Moore (c), Anderson (Miles 70), Rowe, Watson (Kipre 59), Stankevicius (King 80), King (Olukanmi 59), Bailey (A. Trialist 70) 

SUBS NOT USED: Maddison 

GOALS: Rowe 70, Fox 77