PL International Cup Preview: City Travel To Sunderland
The Foxes, sat a point adrift of Premier League 2 leaders Liverpool, will be the visitors to the Stadium of Light in the PL International Cup on Tuesday (7pm kick-off).
Now out of the Checkatrade Trophy, following a 4-2 reverse at Oldham Athletic, Steve Beaglehole’s side have the chance to concentrate on duties in PL2, the PL Cup and the PL International Cup.
In the North East, City know a victory will guarantee them safe passage to the knockout stages with them currently sat atop of Group B, level on four points with second-placed Sunderland.
Ahead of this clash with the Black Cats, here is everything you need to know…
Oldham disappointment
Oldham Athletic 4 Leicester City 2
Extended highlights of the Leicester City Development Squad's Checkatrade Trophy Round 3 tie at Boundary Park.
The Development Squad fell to a 4-2 defeat at Oldham Athletic to exit the Checkatrade Trophy in Round 3 at Boundary Park last week.
During a dramatic clash on the Pennines, City took the lead before half-time through Josh Knight, but their advantage was overturned by a brace from Craig Davies after the interval.
While Ahmed Musa restored parity in the 68th minute, Anthony Gerrard and Tope Obadeyi struck late on to secure Oldham’s place in the Quarter-Finals.
Beaglehole: Focus on Sunderland
Beaglehole Looking To Bounce Back
Leicester City Development Squad manager Steve Beaglehole talks to LCFC TV after his side's first defeat in 20 games came against Oldham Athletic in the Checkatrade Trophy on Wednesday night...
The Under-23s manager said pride outweighs his disappointment after City’s Development Squad lost for the first time in 20 matches at Boundary Park.
“It’s a great competition to find out about our players because, in some Under-23s games, you don’t have to deal with that onslaught of balls into the box,” he told LCFC TV.
“I’m really, really proud of the players. We’ve worked very, very hard and you can see the disappointment on their faces but we’ve got a game at Sunderland on Tuesday.”
Last Black Cats clash
Leicester City U23s 0 Sunderland U23s 0
Watch all the action from the Development Squad's 0-0 draw against Sunderland at Holmes Park.
Leicester’s youngsters were unable to break Sunderland down in the home PL2 clash at Holmes Park back in November.
Third-placed City 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 side who drew 0-0 with Portsmouth in the Premier League Cup last week with Musa and Eldin Jakupović among the notable inclusions.
Sunderland’s perspective
The Black Cats’ Under-23s boss Elliott Dickman rued missed chances following their 3-1 reverse against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League Cup on Friday evening.
“As it wore on we continued to push to score goals,” he told safc.com. “We felt like we dominated the ball but that little bit of care in the final third let us down.
“But when you concede the goals we have done at Brighton you are never going to win a game of football.”
Coming up…
Manchester City U23s 2-2 Leicester City U23s
Watch all the action from the Foxes' Premier League 2 clash against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.
Once the fixture in the North East is completed, attention turns to the visit of Manchester City to Holmes Park on Monday 29 January (7pm kick-off) – which you can watch live on LCFC TV.
Then, a tough trip to tackle Chelsea in Aldershot awaits the Foxes on Friday 2 February, although Beaglehole’s side will be buoyed by their earlier 2-0 success over the Blues.
The following Tuesday, City travel to Havent to face Portsmouth in the Premier League Cup, with them currently sitting top of Group F by a margin of six points.