McSweeney On Learning Curve Evening For Foxes Youngsters
- Northampton Town beat Leicester City’s Under-21s 3-0 on Tuesday night
- The Foxes are fourth in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Southern Group F
- There’s another chance to face EFL opposition next week, taking on Notts County
- Coach Leon McSweeney assessed the performance in what is a busy week of action
The young Foxes were beaten in their second Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage fixture on Tuesday evening courtesy of a Neo Dobson double, which followed Timothy Eyoma’s first-half opener for the Sky Bet League 1 side.
However, taking into account some good play, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, McSweeney saw a lot of promising signs from the group, who he felt just lacked that final pass or moment in forward areas.
“The scoreline probably doesn't reflect the game,” he expressed after full-time at Sixfields Stadium. “I thought some of the play that we had was excellent in possession, particularly in the first half.
“The lads were superb, did everything we asked them in terms of coming here and being brave, taking the ball, receiving it under pressure, playing through the thirds, and getting into the pockets - an area we identified we could hurt them.
“We certainly did that and then it was just after we got it into those pocket areas, trying to get it into the penalty box and then convert. I think that's the part that we lacked tonight. But in terms of domination of the ball, I thought we were excellent.
“We got into some great areas, mixed it up as well, not just going through the pockets, but we caused some problems going over the top and then playing through and around. We did everything and they didn't have an answer for it in the first half. It was just the scoreline which didn't reflect that dominance.
“We conceded from a set piece with that physicality we're always going to struggle against. That's what these games are for and still going in at half-time, I was more than comfortable. I thought in the second half that we would just keep at it, do the same things and get back in the game.
“We had our chances in the second half to equalise, didn't take them, and then it comes back to ruthlessness in both boxes and they scored a second and then the third as well. I think the scoreline is very harsh.”
Facing an established Football League opponent in the form of Northampton, as they did against fellow third-tier outfit Burton Albion earlier this season, City’s coach came away pleased with the competitiveness shown from Leicester’s youngsters against senior professionals.
There’s another chance to pit their wits against EFL opposition next Tuesday, too, with a trip Notts County’s Meadow Lane set for a 7pm GMT kick-off, following this Friday’s clash against Coventry City Under-21s in the Premier League Cup.
“These games are absolutely fantastic for our group in terms of development,” the 41-year-old continued. “Especially the younger ones, giving them that experience. It's just that physicality. You can see technique wise, our lads superseded Northampton and it just came down to that physicality.
“Especially when it gets to 70 minutes and our legs probably run out a little bit. We're chasing the game as well, and then they bring senior players on and that kind of makes the difference. It was those little details that we just have to experience and show our guys the level and that experience more.
The Lads Were Superb, Says McSweeney
Post-match thoughts from Leon McSweeney following defeat to Northampton Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
“I think we finished the game with five scholars on the pitch, so in terms of development, I’m absolutely over the moon. But I was so desperate for the guys to get a result tonight because I thought the performance merited it.
“I’m immensely proud and I think my disappointment just comes from the high standards I set the lads and what I see on the training pitch regularly. I'm not surprised that we played the way we did, because I see it every day.
“I'm just disappointed for them that they didn't get the result that their performance deserved tonight. But there’s no end of positives and I can't eulogise enough about how pleased I was with tonight's performance. I just wanted the scoreline to reflect it.
“But they've got time on their side. They're a great bunch, a great group to work with, and as disappointed as I am with the scoreline, where we are in terms of our development is a really good place to be.”