After conceding twice before the break and losing the third shortly after, Patrick Vieira’s men gave themselves a mountain to climb and although David Faupala reduced the deficit with a fine finish they were unable to break Sunderland down again and get a chance of snatching a point.
Looking to build on the first league win of the season against Middlesbrough last week, Vieira was also looking to give minutes to all his players in what is a well-stocked stable of EDS talent.
As a result, there were five changes from the side that began the 5-1 thumping against Boro, with Kean Bryan moving into the centre of defence and taking the armband.
Ian Lawlor wore the no.1 shirt, while Manu Garcia and Faupala also earned starting roles for this u21 Premier League clash.
Their exertions in midweek in the UEFA Youth League meant a day off for u18s duo Lukas Nmecha and Will Patching, but there was still a youthful look to this EDS side, which continues to have an average age well under the limit of 21.
Spectators expecting a fast start akin to the one they watched against Boro, when Garcia scored virtually from kick off, will have been disappointed – with the early minutes characterised by a tactical squabble in which both sides were content to feel each other out rather than go for the jugular.
Bersant Celina had a powerful shot blocked, while Leicester’s Matt Miles sent a daisycutter the wrong side of the post in the best of the early chances.
It was a decent start for City in terms of possession but they struggled to break past a resistant back line and the Foxes took full advantage – going into the break two up with the two only real chances of a frustrating 45 minutes.
First, Jacob Blyth rose higher than the City defence to give the visitors the lead before Daniel Rowe extended the advantage midway through the first period with a long range effort that took a deflection on its way past Lawlor.
At the other end the keeper denied Manu Garcia at the near post following neat build-up play from Celina, but Faupala was unable to direct his shot on target from the resulting corner.
Leicester had a brilliant over-head kick ruled out for offside before the whistle blew to end a lacklustre half from the young Blues.
Vieira went for the pace and invention of Aaron Nemane at the break, withdrawing midfielder George Glendon, but the change couldn’t prevent City sinking further behind to a fantastic free kick from Joe Dodoo that left Lawlor helpless.
However, within minutes Vieira’s men had got one back with a great finish of their own – Faupala directing his low effort into the corner from 20 yards out to pull the young Blues back within two.
From then on it was virtually all City, with the young boys in blue inspired while their opponents struggled to hold onto the ball and in the end contented themselves to rare forays forward on the counterattack.
Brandon Barker from Nemane’s cross.
Pablo Maffeo did brilliantly to clear the ball off the line from Leicester’s Brandon Fox, but the Blue tide forward could not be stemmed for long.
However, while the pressure and territory will have pleased Vieira, City were unable to make their late dominance of the ball pay in front of goal. Thierry Ambrose was unable tofinish a good move started by Celina and Nemane, while Aleix Garcia’s late effort was some way off target as time ticked down.
In the end, it was too long a road for City to come back from and it was the Foxes who claimed all three points after a strong first half in front of goal.
Vieira will be looking for a reaction against Chelsea at the end of the month.
