A Magnificent First Half, Says Beaglehole

Development Squad
27 Nov 2019
2 Minutes
Steve Beaglehole has praised Leicester City's Development Squad for a 'magnificent' first half outing in Monday's 4-1 victory over Derby County.

- Leicester City's Development Squad defeated Derby County 4-1 at Holmes Park on Monday night
- Goals from George Hirst, Josh Eppiah, Admiral Muskwe and George Thomas sealed a sixth successive win
- Coach Steve Beaglehole praised the Under-23s' attacking performance, especially in the first half
- The positive environment provided by the first team's form is influencing the Club's youngsters, Beaglehole says 

George Hirst, Josh Eppiah, Admiral Muskwe and George Thomas all netted before the break and, while Jahmal Hector-Ingram also scored for the Rams, Beaglehole was thrilled with the performance.

Speaking to LCFC TV at full-time at Holmes Park, the Club's Senior Professional Development Phase Coach picked out the 'masterclass in attacking play' exhibited during the opening 45 minutes.

"If you’d have said to me before the game that we’d win 4-1, I’d have thought we’d have to really go some because I’ve got a lot of admiration for them," he said in Whetstone.

"They’re a strong academy, they recruit well, and they’ve had some excellent results. I thought the first half was magnificent. It was so exciting going forward.

"Other than Derby's goal, it was a masterclass in attacking play; forward runs, overlaps, good combination play and terrific finishing, by any standards.

"Probably the pick for me was Ade’s (Muskwe) goal, all four of them were good, but Ade’s goal, not just because of the strike at the end of it, but the movement as well.

"I'm really, really chuffed, and I keep saying to you, this is a development squad and you’ve seen over the last couple of months how these boys have developed as a team and individually."

Beaglehole also highlighted the working environment at the Club at present with the first team also embarking on a run of six victories in a row - the same number achieved by City's Under-23s. 

"That’s great credit to the staff and I think as well, we’ve got a manager (Brendan Rodgers) that believes in youth and believes in playing players up and involving them in training," he continued.

"I think they all think that they’re at a really good place now at the Club. When you’ve got a first team that’s doing so well, they’ve won six on the bounce, to emulate them is absolutely great.

"It’s another great result for our football club. The camaraderie in the Club is fantastic. I’ve been here a long time, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the atmosphere as good as it is, and long may it continue."

Don't forget, live coverage of the Club's Development Squad is available throughout the 2019/20 for free on LCFC TV.