Flynn: Facing Challenging Opposition Can Only Improve Us
- Leicester City's Development Squad were beaten 3-1 by Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy
- City are second in the group on three points from their first two games
- Midfielder Shane Flynn welcomes the challenge of facing senior opposition in the competition
- All the players will learn a lot from the current tough run of fixtures, he adds
A 3-1 defeat against Sky Bet League 2 side Harrogate Town on Tuesday evening was Leicester's first loss in the competition this season, after beating Hull City on matchday one.
Flynn told LCFC TV that City's youngsters can take a lot of positives from the game, particularly in the second-half performance, despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline.
"It's a massive experience, you're playing against grown men like Jon Stead, you grow up watching these types of players," he commented after the game.
"To play against players like that is a dream. They're playing at the level you aspire to get to, if not higher, so it was a good test for us.
"I think the first 20 minutes we let ourselves down. We know that, we said that at half time.
"We struggled to deal with the physicality and their ability to get up and press us. We tried to match them from the get go and we didn't, we changed it.
"I think from 25, 30 minutes we got better, we got more into the game and I think that showed in the second half as well.
"Obviously, we've lost the first half 2-0, but we've drawn the second half 1-1. So while we've lost the game, there are some positives to take from it."
Flynn admitted it has been a tough period for the Development Squad, but it is one that the Foxes will learn a great deal from.
"Losing is a part of the game, we don't want to lose, naturally no one does, but we have to learn from it," he continued.
"We have to take the experiences like tonight, like against Blackburn, Everton and Derby.
"Each game shows us different things that we can learn from, despite the fact they all have one thing in common that we have lost.
"But different bits and pieces we can take from it to go into future games. I think some people would say the international break has not come at the right time for some teams.
"We've lost four in a row now, but it might give us a chance to regroup and we take into consideration everything that's gone on.
"In the last four games, we've had three games come thick and fast, which we wanted naturally. But this might just give us a chance to reset and start again."
The Irishman, along with several other members of the squad, made the step up from Academy football ahead of this season.
Flynn revealed it has been an enjoyable start to life within the Development Squad, thanks to the work of City's coaches to prepare him for this level of football.
"It's a much higher standard. The culture demand, they demanded a lot of us at Under-18s, but here it's much more," the 18-year-old added.
"Beags (Steve Beaglehole) and Ben [Petty] have been great with me, personally, I think the step up has been brilliant for me.
"They've played me in every game so far, be it off the bench and that's including pre season when we played Lincoln and Rotherham.
"For a first year pro, they've showed a lot of faith in me and they give me a lot of confidence away from stepping across the white line, it's been great.
"I think every every training session and every game you look forward to, naturally, but you're playing against different teams.
"Last year you weren't playing the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, who we have eventually later on in the season, so there's going to be some serious tests coming up which I'm looking forward to.
"But just the standard is obviously raised that one bit more from Under-18s."