Beaglehole Takes Pride In Defensive Solidity
- Leicester City Under-23s boss Steve Beaglehole evaluates the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth
- Both sides created chances at Holmes Park but lacked cutting edge
- City are now a point clear at the top of Group F in the Premier League Cup
- Beaglehole was pleased to see Max Bramley impress again in goal for the hosts
As a result, City have strengthened their position at the top of Group F in the Premier League Cup with a one-point cushion over Premier League 2 holders Everton.
While Pompey threatened in front of goal at Holmes Park, the performance of Max Bramley in the net for the Foxes was one area for Beaglehole to take pride in at full-time.
“I thought defensively we were very good but we just lacked a cutting edge in the final third which ultimately cost us the three points,” he said in Whetstone.
“It may prove to be a very important point for us, though, and it takes us into top spot before we play Everton, both in the league and in this competition, next month.
“We’ve played a lot of matches in a short period of time and maybe it showed towards the end but I was pleased with the work rate of the players.”
City were without Daniel Iversen, Alex Pascanu and George Thomas, who are away on international duty, and Beaglehole took the opportunity to explore his squad's depth.
Top scorer Muskwe, however, started the clash just days after returning from a stay with Zimbabwe’s senior squad, but Hamza Choudhury and Layton Ndukwu were also rested.
“Admiral has just come back from Zimbabwe, he flew across the world to be here, so that shows his enthusiasm to play for us,” Beaglehole added.
“We’ve also been missing a few other lads and maybe it would have been different with them here with us this evening.”
Beaglehole was also enthused by the display of Bramley in goal for the Foxes, with the young shot-stopper being forced to make a succession of essential stops to deny Pompey.
The Under-23s manager added: “Max has had his chances to impress in the cup competitions this season and he has done so when we’ve needed him to.
“We’re are very fortunate to have several very high quality goalkeepers at the Club. Dan [Iversen] is away with Denmark’s Under-21s at the moment and Max filled in very well indeed.”