U21s: Leicester City 3-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa fell to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City in Premier League 2 on Friday night.

The Young Lions conceded three times in the opening 22 minutes as the hosts took firm control of the encounter early on.

Jeremy Monga and Louis Page found the net in the space of just three quickfire minutes, before Henry Cartwright’s penalty firmly put the visitors on the back foot inside the opening quarter.  

Villa looked to spark a comeback and went close to reducing the arrears in the second half before substitute Bradley Burrowes’ superb strike in added time registered reward, yet it was the Foxes who claimed the PL2 spoils.

Josep Gombau’s side will now look to get back to track when they travel to Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday afternoon.

Villa made a bright start and Sil Swinkels saw his header well saved from captain Todd Alcock’s corner.

But it was Leicester who opened the scoring in the 10^th minute as Monga pounced following a deep cross from the left to pick out the far corner.

Villa were forced into an early change as Kane Taylor replaced Ben Broggio just moments later.

And City duly doubled their advantage in the 13^th minute as Page hammered home from a cut-back to stun the visitors.

Kadan Young was proving lively as Villa looked for a route back into the encounter, but it was the Foxes who soon made it three-nil as Cartwright converted from the spot after Ethan Amundsen-Day upended Jamari Lindsay in the area.

Young fired narrowly wide and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba saw his shot well blocked, sandwiching a superb save from Sam Lewis at the other end, as the home side went into the interval three goals to the good.  

Manager Gombau introduced Burrowes and Thierry Katsukunya at the interval and the Young Lions made a positive start to the second period.

Aidan Borland saw his 20-yard effort well parried away before sub Burrowes was denied by City ‘keeper Stevie Bausor following a neat move down the left.

Opposite number Lewis was again at it to deny Kian Pennant before Bausor matched his efforts with another impressive stop of his own to thwart Travis Patterson.

Villa finished the encounter strongly and Young continued to prove a threat for the visitors in the final third.

And the Young Lions finally got on the scoresheet in added time as Burrowes picked out the top corner with a brilliant strike from distance.