U23s Match Report: Leicester City 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 1

- Leicester City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday

- Conor Tighe's 64th minute strike was the difference at St George's Park in City's first match of 2017

- Hamza Choudhury made his first appearance for the Foxes after his return from loan at Burton Albion

- City next travel to Cheltenham Town in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday 10 January (7.45pm kick-off)

The Foxes threatened throughout but Conor Tighe’s 64th minute strike from close range proved to be difference for the visitors at a chilly St George’s Park in Burton-Upon-Trent. 

Hamza Choudhury, making his first appearance for City since being recalled from his loan spell at Sky Bet Championship outfit Burton Albion, gave the hosts a reliable anchor in midfield. 

That was crucial for their first foray towards Brighton’s goal with the midfielder snatching the ball away from James Tilly in the centre circle before offloading it wide to Harvey Barnes. 

The move ultimately fell apart but it wasn’t long before the Foxes ventured forwards again, with Barnes this time linking up with Bartosz Kapustka. The Poland international looked for Kairo Mitchell behind the Seagulls’ backline but it ran slightly too far. 

Mitchell was at the centre of things once more after five minutes, however, and he won a free-kick on the periphery of Brighton’s penalty area. Kapustka, though, was unable to keep his effort wide and it flew just over Baily Vose’s crossbar. 

Henrik Bjordal was a constant threat for the visitors, meanwhile, and he had the opportunity to prove his ability after 11 minutes from 25 yards - but his free-kick was blazed over Daniel Iversen’s net. 

Barnes, on the other hand, was City’s best outlet and he almost gave the Foxes an early lead when he played a tidy one-two with Kapustka on the left flank before testing Vose at his near post. 

The Brighton ‘keeper, though, was up to the challenge. At the other end, Joe Ward found space in the 19th minute but his drag-back across goal evaded its intended target with Tighe being unable to apply the vital touch. It wouldn’t be the last City would hear of him. 

Another Kapustka effort from distance went narrowly wide before George Cox tried his luck from 30 yards ut but neither side could break the deadlock ahead of the half-time break. 

Within six minutes of the restart, Max Sanders went close for the guests but his header whistled comfortably over Iversen’s bar. 

Steve Beaglehole elected to make a double change just before the hour-mark with Raul Uche and Josh Knight replacing Ndukwu and Mitchell. It almost reaped its rewards instantly with Admiral Muskwe benefitting from the Foxes’ new shape to ghost into the area and rattle the Brighton crossbar. 

Uche, however, was unable to beat Vose from the rebound, forcing to stopper into a brilliant outstretched save. 

It proved costly for Beaglehole’s men after 64 minutes as Tighe found enough room in the City box to convert past Iversen from Cox’s low cross and give them a 1-0 advantage to protect. 

The Foxes had some defending to do to keep the scores down in the aftermath of going behind with both Choudhury and skipper Matt Miles making vital interceptions to deny Brighton the chance to put the match to bed. 

Iversen had to be on his toes to knock Cox’s long-range drive over from 30 yards, too, but City were also a threat going forward. 

Kapustka looked for Muskwe from his corner but, with 16 minutes remaining, the City forward was muscled off the ball by Sanders. 

With three minutes remaining, Muskwe was then afforded a guilt-edged chance to claw Leicester back into it but, after a lovely move, his fierce drive went agonisingly wide of goal. 

City next travel to Cheltenham Town in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday 10 January (7.45pm kick-off) and Beaglehole’s men will be keen to get back to winning ways as soon as possible. 

CITY: Iversen, Pascanu, Wood, Kipre, Ndukwu (Knight 58), Miles (c) (Watts 76), Barnes, Choudhury, Kapustka, Mitchell (Uche 58), Muskwe. 

SUBS NOT USED: Bramley, Sheriff. 

BRIGHTON: Vose, Cox, Adekugbe (Barclay 45), Molumby, Hall (c), Dallison, Ward, Sanders, Tighe (Ayunga 78), Tilly, Bjordal (Davies 89). 

SUBS NOT USED: McGill, Cadman.

REFEREE: Wayne Barrett.