U21s: Leicester 0-4 Bolton

Wanderers’ Under 21 side began the calendar year with a bang as they ran out 4-0 winners away at Leicester City on Monday afternoon.

A deserved victory, the Whites had taken the lead through Conor Wilkinson early on, with strikes from Tom Youngs and Zach Clough ensuring that Wanderers went into the half time break with a handsome 3-0 lead.

The hosts did hit back in the second period with Martyn Waghorn enjoying a number of opportunities to pull Leicester back into the clash, but their efforts were in vain as Youngs snatched his second and Bolton’s fourth with the last kick of the game.

Both sides started the game well, with Wilkinson powering forward early on and Michael Cain forcing Oscar Threlkeld to awkwardly head the ball back to Adam Bogdan under pressure inside the opening five minutes.

 

After a lively start, it came as little surprise to the spectators inside Leicester's training ground when Wanderers took the lead through Wilkinson after some superb link up play by Youngs and Clough.

 

The Foxes did claim that the striker was offside, but the referee was unmoved by their cries and the goal stood.

 

Clearly disgruntled, things were about to get worse for City as Keiran Kennedy upended Youngs in the box, with the youngster stepping up to convert the resulting spot kick himself to double Wanderers' lead with 17 minutes gone.

 

It was no more than the Whites deserved, but the Foxes almost halved the deficit out of the blue as Harry Panayiotou slammed the ball onto the bar from a matter of yards out.

 

No sooner had the hosts gone close however, Bolton were back on the counter attack with Sanmi Odelusi's mazy run from the left flank forcing Logan into a smart save while Wilkinson tested the Leicester keeper again moments later.

 

Having experienced a frustrating afternoon thus far, Waghorn called Bogdan into action with 36 minutes on the clock with an effort from the edge of the area, but the goalkeeper calmly saw the ball out of play.

 

With the Whites looking incredibly comfortable in the clash, their dominance was to be rewarded with 36 minutes gone as Youngs fed Clough who made a superb solo run into the area before slotting the ball past the advancing Logan.

 

As the half drew to its conclusion, Waghorn did come close to clawing a goal back for the Foxes as he found himself in space inside the area, but Bogdan was on his guard and scooped the ball to safety.

 

Having ended the first period with such a commanding lead, the Whites almost made it four just two minutes after the restart, but neither Wilkinson nor Youngs could take advantage of some dubious Leicester defending.

 

Looking for an early goal in a bid to stage a comeback, the Foxes went close through Waghorn yet again as he saw his free-kick fly over the crossbar.

 

Clough almost had his second of the game with 56 minutes gone as Youngs found the striker just inside the penalty area, but he powered the ball inches past the upright.

 

City substitute Callum Elder had the Bolton defence back peddling on the hour mark before unleashing a scoring shot goalbound, but Chris Lester was on hand to block his effort.

 

The hosts were certainly putting in a more spirited display in the second half, but their hopes were nearly extinguished as Youngs fired into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.

 

Following a period of sustained pressure from the home side, Zoumanna Bakayago looked set to grab a goal back but he somehow managed to head the ball down the throat of Bogdan.

 

Yet again however the Whites hit them on the counter, with Youngs and Woodland being denied by Logan from close range.

 

As the clock ran down, Waghorn went close with a curling long range effort which Bogdan parried to safety, but it was to be Wanderers who would have the last word as Youngs found himself completely unmarked on the edge of the box and lofted the ball over Logan with the final action of the game.