We Lacked Intensity, Says McSweeney

- The Leicester City Development Squad lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest on Monday evening
- Jayden Joseph scored City's only goal of the evening in the Premier League Cup
- Leon McSweeney shared his thoughts post-match at LCFC Training Ground

The week started with City's youngsters falling to a narrow loss to local rivals Forest at LCFC Training Ground in the Premier League Cup.

Dropping down to third place in Group B, McSweeney described it as frustrating to be beaten at home, explaining that the hosts didn't get up to speed with the game.

"It was very frustrating, but we're a young group that is learning every day," the coach said. "You probably learn more in defeat than you do when you're winning. You're going to have peaks and troughs especially in development with young players.

"So we have to take that on board, but there were elements of the game that were positive and there were elements that we can definitely improve on. We were frustrated with our lack of matching their intensity, which is one of our core values.

"Especially with it being a local derby, I don't think we quite got up to speed with that or earned the right to play. The result probably reflects that."

In his reflection of the game, the coach believed there are areas that the Under-21s squad must learn from, but went on to say how they are all valuable lessons as the Academy setup looks to prepare them for top flight football.

He continued: "We need to dig in when you're under pressure, such as defending the box better, especially from crosses and in one-v-one areas with big spaces behind. Playing at the top level in the Premier League, the players at the back have to defend big spaces - that's their responsibility, so it was good practice for that tonight.

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Will Alves

Will Alves was named in Monday's starting XI.

"We had young players in there such as Jake Evans, Jeremy Monga and Louis Page who came on, which is exciting as an Academy to see them. So it's about bedding them in and giving them that experience to keep stretching them. 

"The more nights like tonight that they experience, with different scenarios, is only going to benefit them in the long run."

Naming an attacking line-up on Monday evening, McSweeney was delighted to have midfield talent Will Alves available for selection, but felt that the style of play was a bit rushed, leading to their defeat in Seagrave.

The young Foxes do however have the chance to put things right on Friday evening when they travel to the capital to face Chelsea in a Premier League 2 fixture (7pm BST kick-off).

"I was excited with Will Alves dropping in from the First Team and we were overloading that front area of the pitch with players with pace and trickery that could create, and to be fair Forest nullified a lot of that attacking threat," he continued. 

"We had to learn to be patient, and visit both sides of the pitch, which is what we needed to do to unlock those spaces inside the box. The ball speed was always going to be important and I don't think we got that right tonight. 

"We were in a rush to find areas to break into and it forced them to compact it and it meant we played into their hands a bit in terms of the counter attack, but we learn from it.

"It's always nice to have a game around the corner to put things right. But we come straight back in to reflect and analyse what went wrong tonight and hopefully we can right those wrongs on Friday and put in a bit more of a complete performance that is required away at Chelsea."