Beaglehole Thrilled By Scholars' Progress
- Development Squad manager Steve Beaglehole was pleased with a 2-1 win over Everton
- Leicester City's youngsters finish as Group F winners in the Premier League Cup
- Kairo Edwards-John and Hamza Choudhury scored late on for the Foxes at Holmes Park
- Beaglehole was also delighted to see so many young players step up and impress on Monday
Kairo Edwards-John and Hamza Choudhury, both products of Leicester City’s Academy, struck in the final five minutes to overturn Alex Denny’s earlier effort at Holmes Park on Monday evening.
With safe passage to the knockout stages secured as Group F winners, Beaglehole told LCFC TV at full-time: “I’m really pleased. Very, very pleased with the performance.
Beaglehole's Everton Verdict
Development Squad manager Steve Beaglehole provides his take on his side's 2-1 victory over Everton on Monday night.
“Particularly with [being unbeaten at Holmes Park in all competitions this season] because this venue has been great for us, as I keep saying. That was the main objective tonight, not to lose.
“There was nothing at stake in terms of points in the league or qualification because, as you know, both teams were through. So I was really pleased with the attitude of the players.
“A lot of teams in that situation would have just seen the game out and lost or gone under and conceded again but we went a goal down when I thought we were having a really good spell.
"I thought we looked like the team who were more likely to score. Sometimes when that happens, psychologically it is a big blow but I thought they went up a gear again. The other pleasing ithing is that we’ve played three scholars.”
On the impact of those to emerge from the Club’s Under-18s side, Beaglehole added: “Simmo [Simran Thandi] played a full game and I thought he did exceptionally well in his first game at this level against a good side and a good player on his side.
“And then, Kairo [Edwards-John] coming on and scoring and Tyrese [Shade] came on and Khanya [Leshabela] again - four scholars, four Under-18s, which is great.
“I’m pleased for Trevor [Peake] and Steve [Kirby] who work with the Under-18s. All round, a really, really pleasing result against a good side, a side which was desperate to win.
“I think you saw the reaction at the end. Everton, last season’s champions, and easily the best team in the league in my opinion… for us to have played them four times this season and had four wins, it’s a great testament to how much progress we’ve made.
“It’s obvious that we’ve made great progress first-team-wise but it’s nice now to see the progress being made at our level.”