Under-21s fall short against Foxes

An improved second-half display wasn't enough for our Under-21s as two goals just before half-time handed Leicester City a 2-0 victory in the Premier League 2 on Monday evening.

We struggled to affect the game in an attacking sense during the first period and quickfire strikes from Amani Richards and Logan Briggs just before half-time put the hosts in control.

But while we threatened more after the break, we couldn't find a way through, with the result mathematically extinguishing our already faint hopes of qualifying for the play-off stage of the season.

On a mild night at the Foxes' training ground, we were certainly in the contest during the first period but struggled to make inroads into the final third with Leicester fashioning most of the chances. Goalkeeper Aaron Maguire made three important saves inside the opening 19 minutes but while Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny hit the top of the net and Leo Black forced a low save from Stevie Bausor - both from distance - we couldn't work Maguire's opposite number enough and the hosts cranked up the pressure in the latter stages of the half to take the upper hand.

Olabade Aluko dragged a shot just wide from 18 yards out before Louis Page came in from the left and worked the ball to Richards on the other side, who duly fired inside Maguire's left-hand post with 41 minutes on the watch. And in stoppage time, shortly after Michael Golding was a whisker away with a fine free-kick, Richards cut through to the byline on Leicester's right and squared for Briggs to slide home from six yards out for 2-0.

We upped our game after the restart with a number of menacing deliveries from Damola Ajayi on the right causing real problems for the hosts, although unfortunately none of those in the box were able to take advantage. Ajayi also played half-time substitute Oli Irow through on goal just before the hour mark but he could only slide his shot wide under pressure, while those two players later set up Rio Kyerematen for a shot at goal inside the box, but he fired wastefully over the bar.

The hosts still had some opportunities of their own over the course of the half but fierce shots from Briggs, Jayden Joseph and Alfie Fisken were all straight at Maguire, while further chances for us went begging late in the game, Yusuf Akhamrich seeing an angled shot saved and his second effort on the follow-up blocked, while James Rowswell couldn't hit the target with a near-post header from a corner.

With no breakthrough and nothing to show for our efforts, we were left 10 points adrift of the play-off positions with three games remaining, meaning we cannot now matematically retain the crown we won last season.

Match data

Goals: Leicester - Richards 41, Briggs 45+1.

Yellow cards: Leicester - Cartwright 38, Pennant 90+1.

Referee: Andrew Humphries.

Venue: Leicester City Training Centre.

Weather: Clear sky, light winds, five degrees.

Attendance: 354.