- Leicester City’s Development Squad were beaten 3-2 by Blackburn Rovers on Friday
- Henry Cartwright and Kian Pennant both scored in the Premier League 2 defeat
- Coach Leon McSweeney reflected on a disappointing night for the young Foxes
The young Foxes twice came from behind at Ewood Park to level Friday night’s contest, firstly through Henry Cartwright’s penalty, which cancelled out Igor Tyjon’s opener and then via substitute Kian Pennant’s goal.
However, after both sides were reduced to 10 men, the hosts grabbed a winner 15 minutes from time, through James Edmondson’s header, leaving City ninth in Premier League 2, on nine points from nine games.
After a difficult opening half, McSweeney felt Leicester’s Under-21s recovered well from conceding and grew into the game, showing character to find a route back into the game.
“I thought in the first 20 minutes we were miles off it from the standards we set ourselves, and I was really disappointed,” City’s coach admitted after full-time. “The first goal probably sums up my displeasure in terms of the five missed challenges.
“We had opportunities to clear the box, didn't, and gifted them three goals really on the night, which, away from home, is very difficult to come back from. They took some harsh words at half-time, but we made a couple of changes that impacted the team in terms of energy and intensity, and they were excellent when they were down to 10 men.
“I thought to a man, we talk about our culture, about being a good team-mate, and 10 lads, after the sending off, really dug in, fought for each other, but were still a threat on the counter attack.
“And then we got back into the game and got the equaliser. It's a fantastically crafted goal down the right hand side with Jake Evans and JJ (Jayden Joseph), a great ball across and finished by Kian Pennant.
“We thought we were in the ascendancy and then we conceded from a set piece, a near post header, and then that just set us back. Unfortunately, we huffed and puffed towards the end there but just couldn't get the equaliser. It's credit to Blackburn. They fully deserved the three points tonight, I can't begrudge them at all.”
Taking plenty of learning and development, McSweeney felt it was beneficial for the players to experience playing in a Football League stadium and also having to adapt to Olabade Aluko’s sending off.
“You learn more about your team in defeat than you do when you're winning,” he explained. “I've certainly done that tonight. It's fantastic to come here at this brilliant venue and play and it's brilliant for the players to experience this arena and have that kind of first team feel, but we need more of it.
“To be honest, we need more stadium games like this because it really adds something to the players and it ramps up that kind of anxiety level that you're going to have. Imagine this is full and you're going to have to perform in front of 30,000 people.
“It's the feel that they're coming away from Under-18s football where you have very much that training ground vibe to it. Those games, having the surrounds of an all-seater stadium like this, it just bridges that gap that we're hoping that we're the next level away from first team football.
“So we have to bridge that gap and this is the closest thing we can get to it. But when we have the opportunity to experience this and give the lads that experience to drive up to the stadium, you know it is something that is going to benefit them when they do get the first team call up.
“The more they experience occasions like tonight, the better equipped they are when they're asked to do it for real.”
A first defeat in four across all competitions, attention turns to the Premier League Cup next and a meeting with Nottingham Forest Under-21s on Monday 21 October, a 7pm BST kick-off at LCFC Training Ground.
The 41-year-old added: “I learned that when players are riding high you have to sometimes get a bump in the road to bring them back to reality and hopefully that tonight is that reality check.
“But I can't fault the lads this season. I think they've been absolutely fantastic. The consistency of performance has been really positive and you're going to have setbacks, it came tonight, unfortunately, where we had a real opportunity to push towards the top of the league.
“Let's look at it as a blessing in disguise and let's make sure that they keep their feet on the ground, get back to the hard work on the training ground, do what we've been doing to get to where we are, regroup and go forward from there.”