Reserves fade after good start

Leicester City Reserves lost 5-2 at West Ham Reserves this evening, once again showing their tendency to lose momentum in the last quarter against older, stronger and more experienced opposition.

But coach Steve Beaglehole could reflect on many positives from a game in which the Hammers fielded six first team regulars while Leicester had none and their oldest player was 19.

As, for instance, against Arsenal and Portsmouth in recent weeks, City played exceptionally well for an hour.

Indeed they took the lead when livewire winger Max Gradel collected a remarkable fourth goal in four games (though the one in the abandoned game against Ipswich won't officially count) to give City the lead.

The Hammers responded with a two goal burst before Scott Lycett, making his first start since an operation, equalised for City before the break.

Leicester also had Jay Smedley playing his first full game since recovering from injury and he was involved as City made several chances to take the lead early in the second half.

In the end it was West Ham who took the Premier Reserves League points with goals from James Tomkins, Shaun Newton, Carl Fletcher, Kyel Reid and Yaniv Katon.

City: Conrad Logan, Jay Smedley, Connor Franklin, Adam Wykes (Tom Tejan-sie), Scott Lycett, Liam Norvall, Max Gradel (Kraig Rochester), Andy King, Eric Odhiambo (Billy McKay), Louis Dodds, Levi Porter.

Sub not used: Carl Pentley (gk)

Click Club Forums, click 100% football for fans chat. Posters can now win monthly prizes for their contributions.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.