City Share The Spoils With Sunderland In PL2
Third-placed City went into the encounter having not conceded in Whetstone all season, a record they were keen to prolong ahead of a busy run-in of festive fixtures.
Steve Beaglehole made six changes from the side who drew 0-0 with Portsmouth in the Premier League Cup last week with Ahmed Musa and Eldin Jakupović among the notable inclusions.
It took the hosts 15 minutes to carve out their first opening in front of James Talbot’s net, although an ambitious volley from George Thomas flew over the bar.
Just before the half-hour mark, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall embarked on an intrepid gallop at the Sunderland defence before offloading it to Musa, but the Nigerian’s smart cross was cleared.
The Foxes had to be on their toes at the back, too, and Josh Knight made an outstanding challenge to deny Andrew Nelson a guilt-edged opportunity in the box.
Beaglehole’s side swiftly regained the ascendency, however, and Dewsbury-Hall was the beneficiary of a fine forward run from Musa, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
After the break, Musa won a corner which was whipped into a dangerous area by Thomas, although Knight’s header, following a tidy flick from Sam Hughes, was glanced wide.
With just over 20 minutes to go, Jack Diamond broke through City’s defensive four, but Jakupović was able to make a comfortable stop to keep out his effort from 25 yards.
At the other end, a succession of headed efforts, first from Hughes and then Admiral Muskwe, saw the Foxes go close in the latter moments.
It just wasn’t their night in front of goal, though, as the clock ticked down - but a point is still a welcome addition to their tally.
Major moment…
Beaglehole Takes Pride In Defensive Display
Steve Beaglehole spoke to LCFC TV following the Under-23s 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
City’s best opportunity fell to the proficient Thomas midway through the first half, courtesy of neat wing play from Layton Ndukwu.
It fell perfectly for the former Coventry City man and looked destined to bulge the back of Talbot’s net. It just had slightly too much power, though, and the moment was lost.
Who impressed?
Fleckney-based defender Knight was a rock once again for the youthful Foxes in Whetstone – and he needed to be on several occasions to make sure City kept the back door shut.
While the hosts looked more likely to break the deadlock, the Black Cats carried a threat of their own on the counter and Knight, alongside Hughes, did well to keep them out.
Where does it leave us?
A second goalless draw in seven days means City stay in third place in the PL2 standings, although they close the gap on second-placed Everton to a solitary point.
Coming up…
On Friday night, City’s second PL2 clash in a week comes at Pride Park against Derby County (7pm kick-off) before a trip to Everton in the Premier League Cup seven days later.
The numbers...
City: Jakupović, Pascanu, Wood (Johnson 67), Knight, Hughes, Choudhury (c), Thomas, Dewsbury-Hall (Gordon 68), Musa, Ndukwu (Eppiah 68), Muskwe.
Subs not used: Bramley, Kaba Sherif.
Sunderland: Talbot, Robson, Hume (c), Bale, Taylor, Storey, Molyneux, Allan, Nelson, Maja (Greenwood 45), Diamond (Connelly 75).
Subs not used: Robson, Woud, Hackett.
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Attendance: 321