Development Squad Aiming For Further EFL Trophy Success

Development Squad
06 Jan 2021
3 Minutes
Ahead of taking on Tranmere Rovers in the third round of the Papa John’s Trophy, LCFC.com reviews how Leicester City's Development Squad have reached this stage of the competition.

On Wednesday 13 January (7pm GMT kick-off), City will do battle with the Sky Bet League 2 outfit, aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals for the second season in a row.

Here's a look at their journey so far...

Hull City 1 Leicester City Development Squad 2
Tuesday 8 September, 2020
KCOM Stadium
Northern Group H 

The Foxes' EFL Trophy campaign got up and running with a trip to face Hull City in early September. Far from being overawed by their senior opponents, the visitors opened the scoring through Callum Wright, before Keane Lewis-Potter equalised in the second half.

City snatched the win when George Hirst converted an injury-time penalty, sending City top of the group on matchday one.

Harrogate Town 3 Leicester City Development Squad 1
Tuesday 6 October, 2020
Keepmoat Stadium
Northern Group H 

Harrogate Town ran out 3-1 winners in the clash at Keepmoat Stadium, with the home side breaking the deadlock through veteran striker Jon Stead, ahead of Dan Jones' second.

Thanawat Suengchitthawon's goal proved to be a consolation as Brendan Kiernan wrapped up three group stage points for Town, but City remained in the hunt to qualify for the knockout stages.

Grimsby Town 1 Leicester City Development Squad 3
Tuesday 10 November, 2020
Blundell Park
Northern Group H

Leicester knew that a win in the final group stage fixture at Grimsby Town would secure qualification for the knockout stages, but the visitors were behind at the break courtesy of Mattie Pollock's 21st minute opener.

City, though, showed great character to come back and score three times in a whirlwind 16-minute spell after the interval. First Callum Wright's equaliser, a header from close range, was followed two minutes later by an inch-perfect free-kick from Sidnei Tavares.

Now in front, City increased their advantage and put the result beyond doubt with a quarter of an hour to play when Admiral Muskwe bundled home the third after Ali Reghba's initial effort was parried into his path.

Muskwe had marked his return to the starting XI following a long-term injury with a goal and the 3-1 victory booked Leicester's place in the second round, where they would face Salford City.

Salford City 3 Leicester City Development Squad 3 (5-6 pens)
Tuesday 8 December, 2020
Peninsula Stadium
Second Round

Progressing into the last-16 would be no mean feat as the Foxes came up against a Salford side riding high in League 2. And City had it all to do, trailing by a two-goal margin following strikes from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. 

However, in a drama-filled knockout tie, Admiral Muskwe scored a five-minute brace to level the scores, as Leicester showed their powers of recovery once again.

After Dieseruvwe's second restored the home side's lead, a superb lob from left-back Shane Flynn - nominated for the LCFC December Goal of the Month competition - equalised late on, making it 3-3 on the night.

That took the game to penalties, where City triumphed 6-5, missing just one of their seven spot kicks. Goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk was the hero, saving twice in the shootout, including the sudden death penalty from Salford's Sam Fielding, to advance into round three.