A Fair Result In The End, Says Petty

- Ben Petty analysed the 1-1 draw between Leicester City’s Development Squad and Arsenal 
- The hosts took the lead through Tawanda Maswanhise but were pegged back before half-time
- There is a growing confidence developing within the young group, Petty believes
- It’s now four unbeaten in Premier League 2 for the in-form Foxes after Monday's stalemate

City led the Premier League 2 Division 1 contest through Tawanda Maswanhise’s 16th-minute penalty, before the Gunners restored parity via Omari Hutchinson’s goal on the stroke of half-time.  

The result extends Leicester’s unbeaten run to four matches while the visitors are without defeat in five. Reflecting on proceedings at LCFC Training Ground, the Foxes coach felt neither team deserved to lose it despite late pressure on the Arsenal goal.  

Petty told LCFC TV: “I thought it was a really good game of football tonight, end-to-end, with some good periods of play for both teams. We probably weren’t quite at our best tonight and that probably shows how far we’ve come over the last few games. We’re delighted with the result in the end.

“We came on a little bit stronger in the second half. Their goalkeeper has had to play well tonight. Credit to him, he played out very well from the back the goalkeeper and obviously saved them on numerous occasions near the end. Overall, it was a good point for both teams.”

A tactical shift to play a back four rather than with wing-backs allowed the home side to try and re-establish some more control on the game, with Sammy Braybrooke pushing forward into a more familiar midfield position alongside Oliver Ewing and Khanya Leshabela.

The ex-Aston Villa youth coach explained: “We tweaked things at half-time, went back to a four at the back just so we could get the press right. I think Sammy [Braybrooke] going into midfield helped us out, controlled the middle of the pitch and created some good chances.

“The last few games, we’ve had a lot of success playing three at the back and I wanted to keep that formation to start with. I dropped Sammy in there but ultimately, he’s one of our best midfield players and we missed him in the first half.

“I brought Shane [Flynn] on, who has struggled a little bit, and it was good for him to come back into the fray and release Sammy and Wanya [Marcal-Madivadua] a little higher up the pitch. It was much better second half.”

Petty was pleased with the contributions of several individuals, not least full debutant defender Joe Wormleighton, who did not look out of place after stepping up from the Under-18s for his maiden start at this level.  

“I was delighted for Joe [Wormleighton],” the 44-year-old beamed. “He’s trained with us now for the last four months and he’s waited patiently for his chance, and I thought he did really well tonight. He got caught slightly for the goal but his recovery after that and his second half at right-back was terrific.

“It’s exciting times for these young players and it’s a really good group to be around at the moment.”