A Great Reaction, Says Barradell
- Leicester City Under-18s beat Blackburn Rovers last weekend
- Goals from Amani Richards and Jahmari Lindsay settled the score at LCFC Training Ground
- Adam Barradell wants the team to build on this performance
- Up next for City’s youngsters is an away fixture against West Ham United on Saturday 19 November
Following an away loss to Southampton, the Under-18s got back to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over Blackburn in a League Cup group stage match at LCFC Training Ground.
A first-half strike from Jahmari Lindsay and a second-half brace from Amani Richards saw off the Lancashire side, despite the visitors' late surge, adding their second through Dillon Addai's own goal following Harley Paul O'Grady-Macken's earlier equaliser.
“It was a pleasing performance,” Barradell told LCFC.com. “After last week, we talked about getting back to basics and getting the structure right out of possession and more bravery and fluidity when in possession.
“It was good to score the three goals, obviously we conceded late on, but it was a great opportunity for the boys to practice with the ball, but I felt like we could’ve done that a bit better at times, we could’ve pressed the game and sustained the ball in Blackburn’s half a little more.
“It's always pleasing when you come away from a performance like we had against Southampton, and you manage to do the work in the week.
“We spoke about a few things that individually, but also as a group that we needed to work on for the Blackburn game so it’s always pleasing when it comes to fruition."
Richards continued his fine form in front of goal, while Lindsay was also the scoresheet, featuring for the Under-18s having been part of the previous matchday squad for the Under-21s.
Barradell continued: “We gave him [Richards] the opportunity to play again, this time in a different position as a striker and it was good to see him score two goals and his performances have been pleasing throughout the season, he’s been a good goal threat for us this year.
“It was great to have Jahmari [Lindsay] back, he’s had some good exposure by training and playing with the Under-21s, and I think both him and Henry Cartwright deserve to be around the Under-21s squad because of their performances.
“It’s always pleasing to see that when boys come back to the Under-18s group they can play above the level and show that.”
The positive result couldn’t come at a better time for Leicester as Barradell and the team travel to London this coming weekend, to face West Ham United who are currently top of U18 Premier League South Division with six wins from six.
“We just want to build on the performance level really," the coach added. "We know West Ham is a tough game, and they’re doing well in the league, but we’ll concentrate on ourselves and how we play. The focus will be on getting the performance right both with and without the ball.
“We’ll look at the opponent and what their shape, and style of play is but mainly it’s about our individual development. Can we improve the boys week on week throughout the season and push them towards the Development Squad?
“Certainly, it’ll be more about us and our style of play rather than looking at West Ham too much.”