U21s Report: Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1

- Ashley Fletcher’s own goal gives City the lead in the first half 

- Guillermo Varela equalises for the visitors 

- Leonardo Ulloa, Yohan Benalouane, Liam Moore, Tom Lawrence and Ben Chilwell all play 90 minutes 

- Manager Claudio Ranieri watches on from the stands

Leicester City’s Development Squad battled to a point against Manchester United at King Power Stadium in their first fixture of the 2015/16 Barclays U21 Premier League season. 

It was a good start from Steve Beaglehole’s outfit, who dominated possession in the early stages and got a deserved goal on 23 minutes. 

Jak McCourt, ever a threat from set-plays, delivered a free kick into the box that striker Ashley Fletcher could only head into the back of his own net in an attempt to clear the ball. 

But just 10 minutes later, the visitors drew level through Guillermo Varela, who collected a loose ball and finished past goalkeeper Jonny Maddison to earn his side a point. 

The fixture provided a run out for a number of City’s first team squad, with Leonardo Ulloa, Yohan Benalouane, Liam Moore, Tom Lawrence and Ben Chilwell all benefiting from a full game, with manager Claudio Ranieri watching on from the stands. 

A productive pre-season schedule saw the Foxes win five of their seven fixtures, and their style of attractive attacking football was evident from the off. 

City started with real intent as McCourt first forced Joel Pereira into a comfortable save, before the goalkeeper held onto Lawrence’s free kick from the edge of the box. 

The lively Lawrence threatened again with 14 minutes on the clock, collecting Benalouane’s cross before firing over the bar from inside the area. 

The visitors registered their first attempt on goal with 19 minutes gone as James Weir saw his shot blocked by Moore, but it was City who would eventually take the lead. 

Captain McCourt delivered a free kick from the left wing that Fletcher turned into the back of his own net with a looping header following his attempt to clear the ball. 

Joe Dodoo, who netted eight times last season, then raced through and side-footed at Pereira, before the Red Devils drew level just after the half-hour mark. 

Defender Varela picked up a loose ball in midfield, cut inside and side-footed past Jonny Maddison to make it 1-1 10 minutes after the opening goal. 

Maddison denied James Harrop shortly after, while at the other end, Ulloa’s ambitious effort from 30 yards flew wide of Pereira’s goal – 1-1 at the break. 

An even start to the second half first saw Ben Chilwell’s header collected by Pereira, before Ulloa’s attempted flick-on from McCourt’s corner was blocked and then cleared just after the hour mark. 

Matthew Willock then tested Maddison from range, while Fletcher went through moments later, but couldn’t get his shot on target. 

Lawrence produced a dazzling run as the game approached the final whistle, only to be dispossessed just as the Wales international was about to pull the trigger. 

A final attempt from McCourt saw his free kick head towards goal, but Pereira was there again, tipping over to prevent the midfielder from scoring a last minute winner. 

With a point against the 2014/15 champions on the table, the Foxes next head to Norwich City on Monday 17 August (3pm kick-off). 

CITY: Maddison, Benalouane, Chilwell, McCourt (c), Elder (Ndukwu 72), Moore, Dodoo, Cain (Sesay 46), Ulloa, Lawrence, Barmby (Panayiotou 60) 

SUBS NOT USED: Miles, Smith-Varnham 

GOAL: Fletcher o.g. 23 

MAN UTD: Pereira, Varela, Love, Grimshaw (c), Borthwick-Johnson, Fosu-Mensah, Willock (El-Fitouri 76), Goss, Fletcher (Redmond 90), Harrop, Weir 

SUBS NOT USED: Henderson, Riley, McTominay 

GOAL: Varela 33 

REFEREE: Thomas Bramall