Foxes Youngsters Held To Portsmouth Stalemate
While Admiral Muskwe and Josh Gordon both tested visiting goalkeeper Alex Boss, Pompey also threatened but neither side could find the cutting edge required to seal all three points.
As a result, the Foxes open a one point advantage at the top of Group F ahead of next month's clash with second-placed Everton at Merseyrail Community Stadium.
With Daniel Iversen, Alex Pascanu and George Thomas away on international duty, this clash presented others in Steve Beaglehole’s talented squad with an opportunity to impress.
City made three changes from the starting XI who drew 2-2 at Morecambe in the Checkatrade Trophy with Khanya Leshabela, Muskwe and Raul Uche Rubio making the cut.
However, it was Portsmouth who made the majority of the early running and Jez Bedford carved open their first opportunity, a half-volley which sailed over Max Bramley’s crossbar.
A direct opening 20 minutes yielded few chances in Whetstone with both sides struggling to keep possession for long enough to launch an assault on the opposite goal.
On 21 minutes, the ball fell kindly for Gordon, playing at the tip of a midfield three, but his ambitious 30-yard drive fizzed wide of the far post.
The visitors broke and skipper Conor Chaplin was there to ask questions of Bramley with a hopeful chip, forcing the young Foxes stopper to tip it over his bar after it took a deflection.
Portsmouth were proving to be a threat on the counter and their next opportunity landed on the half-hour mark, but Curtis Main’s effort lacked the power needed to worry Bramley.
Alarm bells were ringing when Matt Casey and Adam May both guided shots a matter of inches wide of Bramley’s right post in quick succession.
The Foxes goalkeeper was certainly earning his stripes for Beaglehole’s side. Next up, it was Main who put his clean sheet under threat, but he was there again to palm it away.
A period of relative tranquillity greeted Bramley and the City backline after the break and the hosts were able to lodge forays of their own towards goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, Muskwe, who made his senior debut for Zimbabwe’s seniors last week, muscled his way into space before arrowing it the wrong side of the far post.
Defender Sam Hughes, too, nodded it wide late on before Muskwe's second attempt to open the scoring also went unrewarded with seconds remaining.
Major moment
Midway through the first half, the ball looped alarmingly over the Foxes defence and its trajectory appeared to be sending it into the back of the net.
Bramley, though, was in no mood to be beaten and it was his smart save which ultimately secured a point for City during an otherwise uneventful clash.
Who impressed?
A resolute obstacle in the Foxes goal, Bramley delivered a string of sturdy, occasionally crucial, often brilliant, interventions to keep Pompey at bay.
With Iversen away with Denmark’s Under-21s – and on the back of another encouraging individual display at Morecambe – the stopper did his chances no harm at all.
Where does it leave us?
A draw opens up a one-point lead for the Foxes over Everton at the top of Group F ahead of their meeting in Merseyside next month.
Pompey are now third with a solitary point while Barnsley, who City defeated 3-1 at Oakwell in October, sit bottom with none.
Coming up…
In seven days, Sunderland visit Holmes Park as focus returns to Premier League 2 – a clash you can watch live and free on LCFC TV (7pm kick-off).
A trip to Pride Park to face Derby County in PL2 then awaits the Under-23s on Friday 24 November (7pm kick-off).
The details…
City: Bramley, Kaba Sherif, Wood, Leshabela, Knight (Watts 52), Hughes (c), Gordon (Shade 84), Dewsbury-Hall, Muskwe, Eppiah, Uche Rubio (Ughelumba 45).
Subs not used: Yates, McLeod.
Portsmouth: Bass, Henley, Haunstrup, Talbot, May, Main, Bedford (Lethbridge 75), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Widdrington (Smith 75), Casey, Chaplain (c).
Subs not used: Collins, Hancott, Dandy.
Referee: Peter Gibbins
Attendance: 260.