FAN REPORT – Strong line up for struggling U21’s

Our fan reporter Scott Davies popped down to the King Power this week and looked at our future talent….

Manchester City U21’s visited the King Power on Monday with a decent turn out of almost 3000 Foxes Fans. This was an opportunity to bring in some of the fringe players who have lacked game time and mixing the youth with the more experienced heads in the camp.

Leicester named a very strong line up with 7 ‘first teamers’ in Daniel Amartey, Gokhan Inler, Leo Ulloa, Ben Chilwell, Damarai Gray, Joe Dodoo, and Liam Moore, the latter two included in this category as they have featured for the main squad in the past 12 months.
Mixed into that was new Danish Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, Elliott Moore, Hamza Choudhury and Admiral Muskwe, to make up the starting XI.

Manchester City fielded a team of less notable names, however they did feature Goalkeeper Angus Gunn, the son of Norwich City legend Bryan Gunn.

Both teams started comfortably, but it was Leicester who looked the more dangerous with Damarai Gray looking an excellent capture in the January transfer window. His sublime 3rd minute back heal drag and flick set up Ben Chilwell on the left, however the young left back could find a ball into the path of the advancing Leonardo Ulloa.

Man City went close on 12 when Brandon Barker raced through, however, the former Rotherham Loanee dragged his shot across the face of goal and harmlessly wide.

On 14, the impressive Hamza Choudhury put in a strong tackle in the middle of the park winning the ball and playing it out to Gray. The former Birmingham City man delivered a pin point cross to Joe Dodoo who neatly finished with a half volley.

On 20 Ulloa should have done better as he had a shot blocked and the rebound fell to Dodoo who fired just wide.

Shortly after Man City came close to levelling, however Iverson was alert  at his near post and denied Isaac Buckley-Ricketts beating the ball away with his palms.

Leicester did have the ball in the net again on 23, however it was chalked off as Muskwe was adjudged offside, but it was again clever play by Gray to set up Leicester’s number 10.

Dan Amartey had to be strong on 26 to dispossess Barker as the Ghanaian international looks to be settling nicely to the English game. 2 minutes later, Amartey did well again as he wins the ball on the half way line before delivering a cross field pass to Ulloa who nodded it down to Chilwell, however the 19 year old fired wide.

The Foxes went into the break at 1-0 and will be disappointed it wasn’t more with the chances they created.

Man City came out of the blocks the quickest after the break and had the lions share of the possession. Iverson had to be alert again on 51 tipping away David Faupala’s shot at the near post. The Dane was again called into action on 58, palming over Barkers powerful shot for a corner. He really does look a good acquisition and hopefully is another gem the scouting team have unearthed.

Hamza Chowdhury was tireless in his central midfield role and he reminded me of N’golo Kante with the way he tracked back and tackled. One notable difference was a headful of fuzzy hair!

On 65 it was Gunn’s turn to shine in goal as he stopped a Leo Ulloa header on the line before the ball was hooked out of danger by the Man City back line.

Man City continued to push for an equaliser, with a couple of late half chances however the young Foxes saw the game out at 1-0 in what was a much needed win for the #BU21PL bottom team who had only picked up 9 points before this fixture.

We certainly have some good young players coming through and I was impressed with Iversen, Choudhury,, Dodoo, Chilwell, Gray and even Liam Moore. That said, Gokhan Inler looked poor and uninterested which may give indication of why he isn’t even making the first team squad. Ulloa did ok, but nothing spectacular and he is clearly lacking self belief in front of goal. Amartey was steady, but I think there is a lot more to come from him.

Man of the Match = Hamza Choudhury – Remember that name!