A Fantastic Game Of Football, Says Petty

- Leicester City’s Development Squad defeated 2-0 by Valencia
- Ben Petty reacts to the defeat at LCFC Training Ground
- The coach believes City’s youngsters put on a good display
- The Under-21s are next in action on 19 December when they face FC Porto

The Foxes youngsters welcomed Spanish outfit Valencia to LCFC Training Ground on Wednesday night for a second group stage match in the Premier League International Cup.

Following a 2-0 defeat, Petty spoke to LCFC TV: “I thought it was a fantastic game of football, just the sort of game our lads need to be playing in.

“They’re a good side, a bit older than us, bit more experience. I was pleased with the performance, and I thought there were some outstanding individual performances as well.

“They were clinical with their chances and our half chances didn’t quite go in our favour. But chances and goals change games, and Kian Pennant's effort was a great save. If that goes in, I think we’ve got the momentum to go on and win the game.”

A goal in each half, from Pablo Gozálbez Gilabert and Diego López Noguerol, settled the tie, leaving Leicester fourth in Group A, on three points from two games. 

He continued: “B-teams from the international clubs are a little bit older, and a bit more mature, physically, and tactically.

“I thought it was a chess match in the first half, we changed our formation to combat that, and I thought second half we were a real match for them. It was good for the coaches and the players, so all round a good night tonight.

“We’re suffering a little bit now; we’ve got a lot of top players out injured but I thought the lads that came in did a terrific job. We shuffled the pack a bit tonight and produced a good display and, on another night, if one of our chances goes in, I think we go on to win."

Whilst numerous players remain on the injury list, the coach was delighted to have one individual return to action, as City’s Under-21s face a month-long break before the visit of FC Porto on 19 December with a 7pm GMT kick-off.

The 45-year-old added: “It’s fantastic, Bayli [Spencer-Adams] has worked incredibly hard for nine months and when you see a lad come back from an injury like that it always warms your heart a little bit. It’s brilliant for him to get 25 minutes and hopefully he can have a little bit more game time next week.

“It’s a tough training schedule ahead, we’ll have a few days off then we’ll come back in, but the break is a time for us to regroup and get some of our injured players back fit, and we’ll look forward to a strong second half to the season.”