PL2 Preview: City Go To Pride Park To Face Derby
Following a 0-0 stalemate with Sunderland at Holmes Park, the Foxes remain in third place in the PL2 Division 1 standings and they are also unbeaten over 90 minutes in 10 matches.
Ahead of the short trip to Derby, here are five things you need to know…
Beaglehole wary of Rams
Beaglehole Looks Ahead To Rams Clash
Under-23s manager Steve Beaglehole previews his side's visit to Pride Park.
Previewing the clash with LCFC TV, manager Steve Beaglehole said: “They’re doing exceptionally well. They have good recruitment and good players. They are organised and they're on their own pitch.
“It will be a very, very difficult game. I would have settled for winning against Sunderland and getting a draw at Derby. I thought that would be tremendous.
“We need to go there to try to win, which we always do. They won’t sit back, they will come at us and we need to be ready for it.”
Dewsbury-Hall looks to the future
Shepshed-based central midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, speaking to LCFC Magazine, has provided an insight into the Club’s Academy and his career plans at Belvoir Drive.
“I’ve been at Leicester since the age of eight so the Club is all I know,” he said, sat in the home changing rooms at Holmes Park.
“Each year, I feel like I’ve developed into a better player. The staff at the training ground do all they can for us. I can’t wait to keep playing for the Under-23s and hopefully, one day, I’ll get a chance in the first team.”
City's last outing in PL2
Leicester City U23s 0 Sunderland U23s 0
Watch all the action from the Development Squad's 0-0 draw against Sunderland at Holmes Park.
A goalless draw with Sunderland in Whetstone nudged City’s Development Squad one point closer to the PL2 summit on Monday.
The third-placed Foxes went into the encounter having not conceded in Whetstone all season, a record they were keen to prolong ahead of a busy run-in of festive fixtures.
Beaglehole made six changes from the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth in the Premier League Cup last week with Ahmed Musa and Eldin Jakupović among the notable inclusions.
Previous trip to Derby
City’s most recent away clash against the Rams was also a 0-0 stalemate in March 2017.
On the back of a brilliant 2-1 success over Arsenal at Holmes Park and a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Cup, the Foxes went to St George's Park in a buoyant mood.
Leicester looked to have secured a thrilling late winner when Kairo Mitchell nodded it towards goal but the linesman on the far side ruled that it had not crossed the line.
Choudhury excels as captain
“Hamza’s been a leader for us this season,” Beaglehole said, when asked about Hamza Choudhury’s impact on the Development Squad as captain last week.
“He has shown a good level of maturity and is an example of the rewards you get when you put your faith in somebody. The set-up are more aware of him and a few others on the back of this campaign.
“That’s what makes this job special. It’s not just about getting players into the first team. It’s almost as good a feeling when you see somebody like Kiernan come in from the Under-18s and play well.”