Barnes: An Important Result For Us

- Harvey Barnes reflects on Leicester City's 4-1 win over Randers on Thursday evening
- It's a result which puts them in a commanding position in the UEFA Europa Conference League tie
- The Academy graduate believes the nature of Leicester's performance can boost morale
- He also explains the team's desire to ensure Filbert Way remains a fortress 

Barnes' early second-half strike restored City's advantage after Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati equalised Wilfred Ndidi's opener on Filbert Way. Goals from Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though, handed Leicester a commanding lead in the first leg of the knockout round play-off tie. 

The attacking nature of Leicester's play, plus their clinical nature in front of goal, can be a useful injection of confidence, Barnes believes. 

"I think we played some really good stuff tonight," he told LCFC TV at full-time. "Obviously, it’s good to get a good lead going into the second leg, it sort of takes the pressure off a little bit, but we know it’s still going to be a tough game. We played some really good football and scored some really good goals.

"We wanted to keep a clean sheet in the game, but especially when they equalised going into half-time, it makes it difficult. We knew we were playing some good football and we were creating chances, so it was just continuing what we were doing and we knew we would get more opportunities in the game.

"We took them in the second half. I didn’t know there was no VAR so I didn’t want to celebrate too much! It’s good to be back on the scoresheet and it came at a good time for us, early in the second half. It was something we could build on. We seemed a lot more fluid.

"We were playing some good football. We were on the front foot a lot of the time as well. Our pressing was good and I think we created a lot of chances, probably more than we’ve created a lot this season. We were clinical as well.

"We had a little bit of good fortune on a few, where they fell to us, but we’ve got players in the right place and it’s good to get a few goals in the game. When you’re scoring goals and playing good football, everyone enjoys it more. You almost defend a little better – everything’s better – when you’re scoring goals.

"For us, it’s an important result. It should give us a good bit of confidence going into the weekend and hopefully we can get a good result there and finish the job next week."

Fellow Academy graduate Dewsbury-Hall continues to shine in Leicester's colours and Barnes is thrilled to see the Shepshed native take his chance in the XI. He also enjoys working closely with City's No.22 when they combine on the left side during attacking phases of play.

"He's in that little left-hand side pocket and we’ve linked up really well," Barnes added. "He seems to get the ball out to me a lot and, obviously for me, that’s good. Like you've seen in the game, he’s progressing really well. He’s got his goal tonight and he’s come in and done really well for the team.

"His pressing’s good, his all-round game’s really good, and he’s just going to keep improving."

It's undoubtedly been a frustrating spell for the Foxes, but it's now just one defeat in nine matches in all competitions on home soil. Barnes hopes City can continue to build on that productive form to propel them up the Premier League table and advance further in European competition. 

"We’ve always said we want to make this place a fortress," he said. "Our results haven’t been as good as we want them to be, but we’re getting there and we’re starting to get some good results. There’s still a lot of games left this season. There’s a lot to play for and we want to win as many of them as we can."