U21 Report: Leicester 1-2 Saints
Southampton Under-21s began their Premier League 2 campaign with an impressive comeback win away at Leicester.
Simon Rusk's side looked confident throughout the contest and created the better openings, but found themselves behind at half time after Chris Popov’s goal.
However, Saints remained focused in the second period and deservedly claimed the three points after well-taken goals from Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan.
There was a start for first team full-back Juan Larios, who played 60 minutes as his return from injury continued to take positive steps.
Summer signing Romeo Akachukwu also made his competitive debut, with overage player Ben Reeves starting in midfield following his return to the club.
Juan Larios in action. (Photos: Plumb Images)
It proved to be a lively start on the opening night of the Premier League 2 season as both teams looked to get a feel for the ball early on.
The first opening went Leicester's way when Amani Richards was played into space on the right side of the penalty area, but his ball across goal skipped harmlessly wide of the far post.
After patiently biding their time and growing into the opening stages, Saints created a great chance to take the lead themselves
Derrick Abu’s driving run and low cross found Will Merry well positioned in the box, but the forward’s first-time effort flew the wrong side of the near post.
Just before the half-hour mark, Harry French was forced into a smart low save to deny Nathanael Boot's header from an in-swinging free-kick delivery.
Abu was advancing well on the right flank and almost broke the deadlock himself when he was played in behind the Leicester defence, but saw his shot blocked away for a corner.
Against the run of play however, it was Leicester who took the lead when Richards battled into a crossing position and squared across the six-yard line for Popov to tap home.
Further opportunities came and went early in the second half; Romeo Akachukwu’s free header was comfortably saved, and substitute Ehibhatiomhann saw the ball deflect narrowly wide after his initial shot was blocked.
Akachukwu in action on debut.
The positive play was to be rewarded on 67 minutes when the lively Abu found O’Brien-Whitmarsh's late run into the penalty area, and the midfielder's control and finish put Saints deservedly back on level terms.
This saw Simon Rusk's side only increase in confidence, and O’Brien-Whitmarsh was unfortunate not to find the net again when he met a cutback but his shot was saved.
A searching pass over the defence found the lively Abu once again and his cross was met by Ehibhatiomhan, who made certain that Saints' pressure was rewarded once more.
The striker saw his first effort well smothered, but his persistence paid off as he stroked the rebound home into an unguarded net at the second time of asking.
The slender lead is how it stayed, with Josh McNamara remaining attentive to stop Popov from netting a late equaliser to ensure Saints took all three points to kickstart the new campaign.
Leicester: French, Cover, Ali (Ewing 45), Godsmark-Ford (c), Wilson-Brown (Wormleighton 45), Raikhy (Briggs 45), Richards (Monga 74), Braybrooke, Popov, Golding, Marcal.
Subs not used: Bausor.
Goals: Popov 41.
Yellow Cards: Cover, Raikhy, Popov, Wormleighton, Golding.
Saints: McNamara, Abu, Boot (Armitage 88), Moore, Larios (Ehibhatiomhan 58), Reeves (Rohart-Brown 74), O'Brien-Whitmarsh (c) Akachukwu, (Charles 88), Robinson, Merry, Meghoma.
Subs not used: Mohamed.
Goals: O’Brien-Whitmarsh 67, Ehibhationham 77.
Yellow Cards: Boot, Moore, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Meghoma, Abu, Robinson.
