- Leicester City’s Development Squad made it three PL2 wins on the bounce
- The Foxes came from behind to defeat Everton 2-1 at Haig Avenue on Friday
- Ben Petty praised the team’s performance and ability to turn the game around
- Tawanda Maswanhise scored a leveller ahead of Elijah Campbell’s own goal
Trailing to Joe Anderson’s first half header, the in-form Foxes roared back to claim all three points for a third successive league match, courtesy of a stunning Tawanda Maswanhise equaliser and Elijah Campbell’s own goal.
Despite difficult weather and pitch conditions at Southport’s Haig Avenue, Leicester were able to control the second 45 minutes and rise up to seventh in the PL2 standings, much to Petty’s delight.
He told LCFC TV after full-time: “It was a very, very impressive performance. We’re asking the lads to play quality football and look after the ball and pass and as you can see, it’s a very difficult pitch, but they stuck to the plan and I thought second half, some of our football was excellent.
“We were disappointed [to concede]. We didn’t play too badly first half and then fell behind to a set play, which we knew Everton were good at, but at half-time we just talked about staying with it, creating a few more shots and more crosses.
“The goal came at a great time, and it was a wonderful finish from JT (Tawanda Maswanhise) and then I think that gave us the platform to go on and win the game.”
Currently enjoying their best run of the campaign to date, the 44-year-old believes the improvement in the side’s mentality is clear. He credited the maturity shown in recent weeks to see games out, with victories over Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United also by single goal margins.
Keeping their heads in key moments has been vital in order to build further momentum ahead of welcoming Arsenal to LCFC Training Ground in two weeks’ time.
The coach added: “I think we’ve made great strides this season and over the last few weeks. I’d go back to the Arsenal game away when we lost a three-goal lead with a lot of naivety in our play.
“We’ve got such a young team, but I think the way the lads ran the clock down tonight, keeping the ball and keeping it in their half and dominating possession, I was really proud of that.
“I said a few months ago, I felt the squad was probably 12 months away from being where we want it to be but obviously if we can get to that level quicker, of course we will. It’s still a young team out there tonight, it finished very young.
“Opportunities are coming now for the younger players to come into the group and that showed tonight. I thought Terell Pennant and Will Alves were terrific when they came on. Young Joe Wormleighton from the Under-18s coming on for the last 20 minutes, he was terrific too.
“The squad is getting younger but it’s very positive and we can enjoy that now and then get ready for the Arsenal game at Seagrave in a couple of weeks.”