A young defence including makeshift centre back Kean Bryan conceded five in the first half to an experienced Foxes side who pressed home their physical advantage to condemn City to a first league defeat since the opening weekend back in August.
The EDS took to the field at the King Power Stadium for a first u21 Premier League fixture in three weeks. On that occasion, Fulham were despatched convincingly 2-0 in London, courtesy of a pair of first half goals from Brandon Barker and Sinan Bytyqi.
Since then, a very young side triumphed 2-1 over Bury to reach the Manchester Senior Cup final, while two goals from Jose Angel Pozo in Moscow preserved a 100% record for City’s u19s in the UEFA Youth League and left them well in charge of the group after three matches.
Sinan Bytyqi, Brandon Barker and Ashley Smith-Brown returned to the starting XI after successful international exploits that ruled them out of the Manchester Senior cup clash with the Shakers, but it was still a comparatively young line-up that took to the field.
Four of City’s side are still eligible for u18s football, while Leicester fielded a team including such names as Nick Powell and Tom Lawrence, who have already made their Premier League debuts, as well as Danny Simpson and Anthony Knockaert.
The EDS also faced an old friend in the shape of Keiran Kennedy, who came through City’s youth system.
City registered the first shot on goal within 60 seconds, but Angelino could only power his effort high over the bar and the Foxes struck back hard.
Jak McCourt put the hosts ahead in the second minute and Tom Lawrence doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Seko Fofana was ajudged to have brought down the Wales youth international.
Vieira’s side rallied after the early setback and Bytyqi rattled the woodwork from a signature free kick, but found themselves four down before the 20 minute mark as Lawrence added his second and Dodoo tucked home the fourth from close range.
Lawlor made a further two stops and Shay Facey was forced into a goal line clearance before Kennedy added a fifth against his old club in a tough opening 45 minutes for Vieira’s men against a clinical Leicester.
Thierry Ambrose, who entered the fray after half an hour in a brave attacking change from the boss, got one back right on the stroke of half time, rounding the keeper to perfection before finishing into an empty net to ensure the hosts didn’t have everything all their own way.
However, Tom Hopper restored the five goal cushion shortly after the restart on a night when City struggled to express themselves under the King Power Stadium floodlights.
City did create chances as the game progressed - Olivier Ntcham, who replaced Barker at half time, had one effort saved by Smith and then sent a second attempt narrowly wide less than a minute later, while Pozo’s chip was cleared off the line as City demonstrated their refusal to submit meekly to the hosts.
Horsfield nearly found the net with his first touch but Smith was able to push the ball over the bar, while at the other end Facey put in a perfectly-timed tackle to deny Lawrence his hat trick as the game rediscovered some of the earlier intensity midway through the second period.
At last, City were rewarded for their efforts with a second goal, this time from Bytyqi who unleashed another trademark set piece that this time flew into the top corner.
Ntcham came close with a long range effort late on, but the final whistle blew on a 6-2 defeat for Vieira’s young charges, who will look to bounce back immediately when they host Everton on Friday night.
