Looking Back On The Season Gone For The Development Squad
- The Leicester City Development Squad’s season concluded with a 3-1 win over West Ham United
- City’s youngsters finished 20th in the Premier League 2 standings
- The Foxes won nine games across the season
- Leicester also reached the last 16 of the Premier League Cup
Another season passes by for the illustrious Academy at Leicester City, and a first under the new layout of the Premier League 2 standings, in which both divisions were combined into one 26-team competition.
Finishing 20th with 20 points collected over 20 games, the young Foxes missed on the second stage play-offs, but still had success throughout the season, which was highlighted by the number of Academy graduates to feature for the First Team.
But focusing on the Under-21s' standalone season, here is a look back at how they fared in each competition as the next batch of homegrown talents look to catch the eye of Enzo Maresca, who prepares for life in the Premier League.
Leicester kicked things off in mid-August with a convincing 2-1 win over Derby County, Amani Richards and Zach Booth, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Volendam in the Eredivisie, getting on the scoresheet at LCFC Training Ground.
This victory was unfortunately followed up with six straight defeats across the next few weeks, including narrow losses to Norwich City and Burnley, but the Foxes managed to score in all fixtures; Richards taking his tally up to three early on in the term. Top scorer Silko Thomas notably scoring twice as well.
Towards the end of September, Leicester faced Sky Bet League One opponents Wigan Athletic in their first group stage game of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Arjan Raikhy, who got 45 senior minutes against Bournemouth in the Emirates FA Cup, opened the scoring at DW Stadium, before the flood gates opened resulting in a 7-1 loss.
City got back to winning ways ten days later with a 3-1 victory against Fulham at Motspur Park as two early goals from Wanya Marçal and Thomas sent the visitors on their way, before Kian Pennant rounded off the scoring in the final minute of regular time.
October saw Leicester claim their only win of their EFL Trophy campaign, beating Tranmere Rovers 1-0 thanks to a ninth-minute goal from Thomas, making it two goals in three games for the forward.
Heading back to PL2 action, the next match against Chelsea resulted in their first draw of the season; now First Team defender Ben Nelson scoring a late equaliser to cancel out Brodi Hughes’ first half effort.
On 7 November, City’s third place in Northern Group D of the EFL Trophy was confirmed with a 4-0 reverse to Fleetwood Town in which Ryan Broom scored twice. Although eliminated from the tournament, the three games proved valuable experience for the Foxes’ Under-21s.
After losses to Brentford and Wolves, Leicester headed to Lancashire FA County Ground where Thomas was on the scoresheet once again, along with Logan Briggs, to overturn a one-goal deficit against Burnley and claim the three points.
City went on to lose just once in their next three as draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United either side of the New Year were followed by a loss to Reading. But, an injury-time winner from Briggs in the Premier League Cup got Leicester back on track against Fulham.
Results remained mixed over the final ten games of the season but started positively in early February as a dramatic 3-2 win over Brentford put the Foxes into the final 16 of the Cup. Marçal and Oli Ewing finding the net either side of Thomas, who was back among the goals.
A 1-1 home draw to Crystal Palace followed suit although the positive news of the day was seeing talented midfielder Will Alves back on the scoresheet, having returned from a long-term injury, and Sammy Braybrooke’s return wasn't too far behind.
The first day of March saw Leicester fall to a 3-2 defeat to the Eagles, bringing an abrupt end to their Premier League Cup ambitions in the first knockout round, though a Thomas brace and success at home to Leeds United back in the league three days later lightened the mood.
Next up was Everton, who came out on top in a seven-goal thriller on Merseyside, with Thomas taking his tally up to nine for the season in all competitions heading into the final five games.
A 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, in which Joe Wormleighton and Raikhy found the opposition’s goal was followed by consecutive defeats to Sunderland and Manchester City. However, the long-awaited return of Braybrooke was rewarded as the midfielder found the net with an impressive free-kick against the Black Cats.
With a bottom-half finish guaranteed, City ended strongly with back-to-back victories over Stoke City and title-chasers West Ham United, scoring seven goals, evenly split in the process with Braybrooke and Alves on the final day scoresheet.
Although not a position-rewarding display in the league this year, the Under-21s did produce some good performances, despite injuries to key players such as the talented midfielder duo named above. The Under-21s setup continues to feed determined individuals through the doors of the First Team building in Seagrave, proving that the Academy production line works at full capacity.