Chelsea development side held by Leicester

Chelsea’s development squad were held to a goalless draw by Leicester on a frustrating night at Aldershot.

The Blues youngsters dominated possession and territory but were unable to break down a resolute away side, who played the last six minutes with 10 men, but were content to sit deep and invite pressure throughout.

Ike Ugbo came closest to finding a winner in the first half when his curling shot hit the post and rebounded to safety, while Fikayo Tomoro blasted a late effort over the bar.

The Blues failed to make their superiority count during a one-sided first half in which Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah had a firm control of central midfield.

The pace of Dujon Sterling and the direct running of Ugbo provided the greatest goalscoring threat and the latter came closest to opening the scoring with a measured curling strike that came back off the far post after the striker cut in from the left flank.

Ugbo also had a shot that went across the face of goal, while a flowing move ended with Sterling steering a shot effort wide from Fankaty Dabo’s cross.

Leicester barely threatened in the opening period, but they pressed further up the pitch in much more even second half.

It took until the 50th minute for them to force their first corner and, although chances remained few and far between, they did go close through Harvey Barnes and Darnell Johnson.

At the other end Jacob Maddox was off target with a strike on goal and Ugbo threatened on several occasions, but the young Foxes held on despite Lamine Sherif being sent off in the closing stages for receiving two yellow cards.