Beaglehole: So Much To Be Proud Of

- Development Squad manager Steve Beaglehole is proud of their efforts in the Checkatrade Trophy
- Leicester City fell to a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat in Morecambe after drawing 2-2 over 90 minutes
- Beaglehole was delighted with the application of his young side against Football League pros
- City are second in Northern Group A and need Fleetwood Town to defeat Carlisle United on Wednesday

After Layton Ndukwu and Josh Knight overturned Garry Thompson's opener, Elliott Obsorne struck in the last minute to send City's final Checkatrade Trophy group stage clash to penalties.

Hamza Choudhury and Raul Uche Rubio converted their spot-kicks for the visitors, but Josh Knight and Josh Gordon were denied, allowing Adam Campbell to eventually seal victory for the Shrimps.

But Beaglehole, whose side were awarded a solitary point for drawing in 90 minutes, looked to the positives following another encouraging display against Sky Bet League 2 opposition. 

The Foxes, second in Northern Group A, can still reach the knockout phase of the competition if leaders Fleetwood Town overcome third-place Carlisle United in 90 minutes on Wednesday night.

Beaglehole told LCFC TV: "I'm exceptionally proud. It was a very, very difficult game. I don't think we started as well as we have done in recent weeks but it's very difficult to play these games.

"Josh [Knight] and Sam [Hughes], who have been dominant in recent games, found it difficult early on. It was a taste of proper, Football League football.

"We went down inside the first 10 minutes which was disappointing as we speak about that often but we became more aggressive and Layton got us a goal that I think we deserved.

"We were very, very good in the second half. They couldn't have given any more. It looked like we were going to win it and then Morecambe went for it with nothing to lose at the end.

"Okay, we lost the penalty shoot-out, so we only get one point as opposed to two, but if Fleetwood can beat Carlisle, we will still progress."

Beaglehole was also enthused by the performance of the youngest members of his side with Academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in particular earning high praise from the Under-23s manager.

"We're playing against hardened pros and we've needed to be brave on the ball," he added.

"I was especially pleased for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. I'm really pleased with him, he really settled things down and he was brave - both on the ball and off it.

"The group is fantastic. As far as I'm concerned this is not a defeat. It's a real pleasure to be around the players and the staff.

"We give everything we can as staff and they give us everything they can."