City’s starting XI for their eighth Premier League 2 outing of 2018/19 featured four changes from Bury on Tuesday with Viktor Johansson, Danny Simpson, Andy King and Alex Pascanu returning.
In glorious sunshine, the Foxes started brightly and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall rattled the bar after just 10 minutes following smart play on the wing from Raúl Uche Rubio.
Tyrese Shade, meanwhile, was unfortunate not to follow up his goal at Bury, but Spurs goalkeeper Branden Austin did well to get down and save his low effort down at the near post.
Fresh from appearing for Sweden’s Under-20s last week, Johansson was also required to stay on his toes in City’s goal, getting a hand to a Roles free-kick after the half-hour.
Shortly before the interval, Ryan Loft smartly added a flick onto Dewsbury-Hall’s low drive, but Austin adapted his standing position to keep it out with his knee.
While Leicester lost Uche Rubio to injury, their flow wasn’t too severely disrupted and Calvin Ughelumba, the Spaniard’s replacement, filled in admirably down the left flank.
After the break, Elder and Shade both went close as City continued to press and counter effectively. Spurs, though, were defending stoically at the back to keep the visitors at bay.
The Club’s 2017/18 Academy Player of the Season, Connor Tee, joined the action in the 65th minute in an attempt the give City fresh legs in the attacking third.
Elsewhere, two of the more senior figures in City’s line-up, Simpson and King, linked up with 20 minutes remaining, with the latter sending a powerful header onto the near post.
Spurs, too, were denied by the woodwork in the latter stages when Tashan Oakley-Boothe played in Roles, but it cannoned back off Johansson’s post and out to safety.
However, the hosts would open the scoring in frustrating circumstances for the Foxes as Roles, a menace throughout, pounced intelligently to win it for Tottenham with four minutes to go.
Who impressed?
While the Foxes struggled to find the conviction required to win this one, one source of intuition on the flanks was first half substitute Calvin Ughelumba.
The 18-year-old, recently promoted from the Club’s Under-18s side, showcased his ability to cross the ball accurately while also worrying the opposition full backs with his raw pace.
Where does it leave us?
The Development Squad remain fourth in Premier League 2 Division 1 with 11 points, although this result comes before all sides around them will play their eighth game of the new season.
Coming up…
The Club's youngsters welcome West Ham United to Holmes Park in Premier League 2 on Friday 26 October – a fixture you can watch live and for free on LCFC TV (7pm BST kick-off).
City: Johansson, Simpson, Pascanu, Knight, Elder, Johnson (c) (Kaba Sherif 77), Dewsbury-Hall, King, Shade, Uche Rubio (Ughelumba 32), Loft (Tee 65)
Subs not used: Davies, Ramsay