Thomas brace fires Leicester to victory over Leeds

04/03/2024

Leicester City Under 21’s leapfrogged Leeds United in Premier League 2 after securing a 2-0-win against the West Yorkshire outfit courtesy of Silko Thomas on Monday night.

On a freezing cold evening at Seagrave, Leeds and Ben Petty’s side traded blows early on, with the visitors’ best effort of the evening coming through of a 10th minute curler from winger Joseph Snowdon, which struck the bottom of the post.

This came after a first half-chance from the hosts, as the exciting Logan Briggs cut inside from the right wing and created space for a shot, securely dealt with by Dani van den Heuvel in the Leeds goal.

This was a warning sign of things to come, however, and with both City’s wingers looking at it from the start, it was Silko Thomas who opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Foxes goalkeeper Brad Young, having already played a pass to create an early opportunity which led to a Henry Cartwright snapshot - opted for directness often early on, and it paid dividends as he brilliantly found Thomas on the left-hand side with a long ball, who was able cut inside and strike one skilfully into the bottom right corner.

Despite a swift end-to-end pace to the game in the early stage, it was Leicester who continued to press for a second.  Arjan Raikhy – a starter for the first team at Bournemouth in the FA Cup last week – played a ball through to Amani Richards up front who had a shot well saved and sent another wide of the post minutes later following a ball from Joe Wormleighton at left back – one of numerous teasing crosses the Leicester captain swung in throughout the evening.

19-year-old Amani Richards showed his quality positional play as he once again took up great space to work his third opportunity after Leeds failed to deal with a Thomas cross from the left-hand side, with the second of two efforts rolling tantalisingly wide of van den Heuvel’s near post. It was just one of many occasions throughout the evening where the attacker got the better of his man to create chances.

Shortly before half-time Leeds had their best spell of the game, with their wingers showing aggression and looking to take the ball in wide areas and cut inside, but they failed to produce enough quality with the final ball and City’s centre halves Ben Grist and Harvey Godsmark-Ford, who commanded their aerial duels exceptionally throughout the game, dealt with them cooly.

Highly rated youngster Sonny Perkins up front for the visitors, who was substituted at the interval after going down with an injury in the first half, was active in the game with some smart linkup play, and Leeds’ closest moment in this phase came through a goal ruled out for a marginal offside. Perkins received the ball from Sam Chambers and spread the play wide to 17-year-old Rhys Chadwick-Chaplin, whose ball across the face of goal was tapped in by Snowden. City were saved by the linesman’s flag, but it was a warning sign, nonetheless.

Leicester quickly steadied the ship and regained momentum, grabbing their second as the game entered 3 additional minutes at the end of the first half, once again through Silko Thomas in what was a fantastic team move. Richards received the ball well in space following a run down the right flank, with Leeds once again unlocked by a longer ball, and squared to Thomas with precision, who showed composure to beat van den Heuvel and double Leicester’s lead just before the interval.

They were good value for this lead at the break, and Leeds, attempting to produce some attacking impetus, brought on Josh McDonald for the second half who went to the left-hand side, with Joseph Swindon playing centrally. Whilst a potential onslaught from the visitors never came, Brad Young had a busier second half than the first, initially making a comfortable save low to his right from a Harvey Sutcliffe effort 4 minutes after the break.

Yet a similar pattern to the first half emerged shortly after, and Amani Richards created his own chance and broke free, with a one-on-one opportunity only prevented by a firm, well-timed challenge from Reuben Lopata White, who played in the heart of the Leeds back 4.

But more good play followed from City. Joe Wormleighton, who commanded the left side behind Silko Thomas expertly all game, made a number of great challenges, one of which came shortly before an interchange with Oliver Ewing, who then played Thomas through. The tricky winger whipped a ball into the corridor of uncertainty, but it proved inches too high for the onrushing Logan Briggs whose header from 6 yards sailed just over the bar.

A first Leicester change came in the 67th minute as Wales under-21 international Chris Popov replaced Oliver Ewing and played as a central striker. Amani Richards moved to the right and Logan Briggs played as a central midfielder through the left channel – a role showcased by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Yunus Akgun in the EFL Championship this season.

Popov showed a physical presence and pressed the game well, both good at stretching the pitch and when with his back to goal. Silko Thomas had a chance after a cross to Popov was cleared back out to the winger – showing his persistent threat coming into central areas as well as out wide – but wasn’t able to complete his hat trick. This proved to be his last opportunity and the 19-year-old, having featured on the bench for the Bournemouth FA Cup game last week, settled for a brace as he was replaced by Jahmari Lindsay 10 minutes from time.

Kian Pennant completed the substitutions, replacing the bright Amani Richards in the 84th minute. Pennant looked energetic and made some effective runs but found himself thwarted in the final third by a Leeds defence which, aside from the goals, limited City to few clear-cut opportunities.

Leeds tested the hosts in the closing stages, first looking to catch Young off his line through a speculative effort from the centre circle, and then seeking to play longer balls in behind the Leicester defence. Ben Girst and Harvey Godsmark-Ford were consistently equal to them, with the latter especially making a number of solid clearances.

After another well-held save from Brad Young in the 89th minute, the visitors had the final attempt in second-half stoppage time, with a free header from a corner in the centre of the box rebounding off the post and somewhat fortuitously finding the gloves of Young, with the full-time whistle confirming City’s 2-0-victory seconds later.

It was a notable result for Leicester, who now go ahead of Leeds United and into 22nd on 13 points, showing strong bouncebackability following the 3-2 defeat in the Last 16 of the Premier League Cup last Friday. The games keep coming thick and fast however, with City back in PL2 action at Everton on Friday night – another big game with just a point separating the sides in the table.

As for Leeds, they remain winless in 9 in the league and drop to 24th in the table. They can take some positives from this performance as they look to get back on track and host Norwich on Friday night.

Tactical analysis

Notably, Petty’s under 21 side have clearly been working in conjunction with the First Team, conveying many similarities to the way Enzo Maresca’s side have played in the EFL Championship this season. This was particularly prevalent in their positional play.

On the ball, Brandon Cover would invert from right back into a central areas – in the ‘Ricardo role’ – creating a double pivot alongside Arjan Raikhy, who came deep to provide a short option from Brad Young in the left channel, not dissimilar to Harry Winks in the First Team system.

Ben Grist and Harvey Godsmark-Ford spread wide in these scenarios providing short options for Young, showing their athleticism and versatility to progress the ball down the wings as well as in central areas. Grist in particular provided an option on the right-hand side commonly used in much of City’s first phase build up.

Oliver Ewing was another outlet as he often dropped deep into pockets of space to pick the ball up on the right-hand side, and Joe Wormleighton at times tucked in to receive the ball on the left, but also had license to go forward on the overlap and swung in a number of dangerous balls.

Early on, a notable difference to Maresca’s First Team was a slightly greater willingness to play direct at times, utilising the pace of the Thomas, Briggs and Richards front 3 to stretch the pitch in behind. This paid dividends as both City goals game from pinpoint balls of real quality from the goalkeeper and defence.

Off the ball, Ewing often joined Raikhy to press as a midfield pairing whilst Cover reverted to defending as a right back, and Cartwright pressed high on the left of Amani Richards up front. The centre-backs were not afraid to step up and try to win the ball, and this epitomised the City press which was diligent and especially in the first half kept Leeds penned in on several occasions. Leicester showed discipline to constantly cut passing lanes and nullify any threat through the centre of the pitch.

Notably, on 28 minutes when Leicester had an opportunity to either slow things down and regain possession or seek to make a risky pass through the lines, Brad Young shouted “control the game” at his defence. This only serves as an indicator of where the mentality of a squad lies and, having become Enzo Maresca’s key idea this season, represents a symmetry between the way the Under 21’s and are working with the First Team setup. Familiarising themselves with this variety of roles will stand City’s young stars in good stead when they do make the step up into Maresca’s ball dominant system.

Leeds United pressed much of the game in 4231/442, with Sam Chambers often pressing high alongside the striker and Cian Coleman and Rhys Chadwick-Chaplin working hard as a double pivot off the ball. The visitors also demonstrated a desire to play out from the back as is becoming increasingly common in today’s game, with other similarities to Daniel Farke’s First team including aggression from the wingers and an attempt to build up quickly with fast passing interchange.  

Player performance

Brad Young, whilst having little to do in terms of challenging shot stopping, looks a real physical presence and commanded his box consistently all night long.

Godsmark-Ford led a controlled City’s defence, with Wormleighton and Grist either side of him looking physically assured, comfortably dealing with both aerial threats and balls in behind them with consistent confidence.  

Wormleighton in particular impressed linking up on the left hand-side, both taking up advanced positions delivering quality crosses, and showing stamina to control the flank and allow Thomas freedom ahead of him. There were good interchanges with Ewing who appeared in pockets all over the pitch, coming deep to collect the ball and driving the team forward, and Raikhy whose assurance demonstrated why he has been involved in the First Team setup in recent weeks. Brandon Cover played a key part in this ball progression alongside Raikhy, and looked solid defensively on the right.

Henry Cartwright pressed the game well from the front and looked quality on the ball in tight spaces, providing strength to hold off opponents and the vision to pick out passes and help progress City up the pitch.

As strong as they were through the middle, it was the wingers that had the crowd watching on at Seagrave most excited, as they hugged the wings but looked to cut inside and drive upon receiving the ball. Logan Briggs showed capability both centrally and wide and looks to be another example of a left footed right-winger that City have sorely missed in the last few years; Foxes fans will hope that he can continue to progress.

Silko Thomas stole the show with two well-taken goals and consistently had the better of his man at the evening. He would drive inside but also go around the outside of his full-back with electric pace and put crosses into the box. He additionally showed a clever awareness to get into good areas and win fouls from an increasingly frustrated Leeds defence, including a booking out of Lopata White in the 38th minute, as well as a work rate to track back and help defensively.

Amani Richards looked a really exciting player and deserved the assist to his name. He was a handful for the Leeds defenders, dragging the centre-backs wide and keeping hold of the ball allowing City to get up the pitch. A very quick player and tricky on the ball too – definitely one for Leicester fans to watch.

Off the bench, Popov, Pennant and Lindsay pressed the game well and continued to show that City have a strong squad of players that can provide versatile options in Petty’s style of play.

Whilst City’s goals came from direct situations, they also showed a propensity for short, intricate passes with neat movements both on and off the ball all evening. There were impressive performances all over the pitch in the cold rain at Seagrave, with the team continuing to win the ball back in good areas and showing real energy even as the game approached its conclusion.

An important win for the side and demonstration that Leicester City's future is in safe hands.

Teams

Leicester City XI: Young, Cover, Grist, Godsmark-Ford, Wormleighton, Raikhy, Cartwright, Ewing, Briggs, Richards, Thomas.

Bench: Pennant, Popov, Donnelly, Doherty, Lindsay.

Leeds United XI: van den Heuvel, Diboe, Lopata White, Monteiro, Sutcliffe, Coleman, Chadwick-Chaplin, Thomas, Chambers, Snowdon, Perkins.

Bench: Richards, Cresswell, Toulson, Christy, McDonald.

Referee: Greg Rollason

Thank you for reading my article.

Wilby Toothill