Super subs make difference as EDS beat Leicester

Brian Barry-Murphy‘s side hit the front through Carlos Borges but were pegged back when Tawanda Maswanhise equalized before half-time. 

The EDS manager looked to the bench, and was rewarded as Dire Mebude came on to give us back the lead on the hour mark, whilst fellow substitute Jadel Katongo extended our advantage just ten minutes later. 

The win continues our perfect start to the Premier League 2 season, with two wins from our first two matches. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

City started with our usual zip of pace and energy, putting the visitors immediately under pressure, particularly when they played out from the back.

Not many opportunities were created in the opening minutes, but we continued to threaten especially through Oscar Bobb, whose link-up play and darting runs were causing problems for the Leicester back-line.

Josh Wilson-Esbrand was also proving a menace from the left-hand side, linking up with Bobb to create space inside the box, but his shot was saved by Chituru Odunze.

But just after the 20-minute mark, Borges got in behind the defender, bringing down Finley Burns‘ lofted through ball with some elegant control, before stroking the ball into the bottom corner to earn us the lead. 

The game was disrupted as an unfortunate injury to Leicester defender Iestyn Hughes led to a 15-minute stoppage in play. 

Soon after restarting, the visitors drew level when Maswanhise’s deflected effort flew beyond a stranded Mikki van Sas. 

The Foxes striker could’ve scored a second when a dangerous cross landed at his feet from close range but he couldn’t direct his effort on target, and the scores remained level going into the break. 

As the second-half started, we struggled to impose ourselves on the visitors in the same way we did in the first, with Leicester showing far more control when playing out from the back and also able to prevent City’s counter-attacks.

Barry-Murphy wrung the changes, bringing on Mebude and Katongo and their impact was instant, with the former looking dangerous right from the off, breaking into the box and seeing a shot deflected over soon after entering the fray. 

But it wasn’t long before he made a chance count, latching onto the end of a through ball and stroking an effort beyond Odunze to restore our lead just before the hour-mark. 

And we consolidated our advantage just ten minutes later when a lovely corner routine, orchestrated by Rico Lewis, found Katongo inside the box, who calmly finished into the back of the net to sealed the points. 

HOW WE LINED UP

van Sas continued in goal from last week’s win over Liverpool, while there were some changes in the back-line.

Lewis, fresh from making his senior debut against Bournemouth, came in at right-back along with Burns, whilst Luke Mbete and Juan Larios kept their spots. 

Shea Charles once again was tasked with captain duties, anchoring the midfield alongside Kian Breckin.

Bobb played a more advanced attacking role, flanked by Borges and Wilson-Esbrand, whilst Dan Ogwuru was selected to lead our attack. 

Manchester City Elite Development Squad 

Starting XI: van Sas, Lewis, Burns, Mbete, Larios, Charles (C), Borges, Breckin, Ogwuru, Bobb, Wilson-Esbrand 

Substitutes: Katongo, Taylor, Mebude, Smith, Adam

Leicester City U21

Starting XI: Odunze, Hughes, Brunt (C), Braybrooke, Appiah, Flynn, Fitzhugh, McAteer, Maswanhise, Alves, Madivadua

Substitutes: Wormleighton, Doherty, Ewing, Pennant, Pennant

WHAT IT MEANS

The win carries on from our victory over Liverpool last week, making it two Premier League 2 wins from two matches. 

We are now tied at the top of the league with Crystal Palace on both points and goal difference, only trailing in goals scored. 

UP NEXT 

The EDS will be back in action at the Academy Stadium next week as we take on Tottenham Hotspur. 

Kick-off will be at 12:00 (UK) on Sunday 21 August.