Ibrox kids outfoxed in a rout
LEICESTER’S kids inflicted a cruel lesson on Rangers’ development squad as five second-half strikes downed Graeme Murty’s side.
The Ibrox clash was the latest in the club’s Games Programme against some of Europe’s top academy teams, having already squared up to Manchester City and Feyenoord.
The fledgling Gers outfit held their own in an entertaining first-half with no lack of bite from either side, with Portuguese defender Bruno Alves and former Light Blues midfielder Alex Rae among those in attendance.
The Foxes took a secondminute lead when the impressive Conor Tee slotted low into the corner from Tyrese Shade’s pass.
Rangers hit back after 15 minutes as Ryan Hardie dusted himself off after being upended in the area to stroke home a penalty.
Murty’s outfit combined to create some neat passages but their opponents’ physicality would eventually tell in a nightmare second period for the young Gers.
Winger Shade restored Leicester’s lead after darting inside from the right before Tee capitalised on some slack midfield play to grab his second.
The 16-year-old rounded off a fine performance by tucking away a rebound after Rubyn Gill struck to end the match as a contest.
Tom Fielding then stepped up to put the shine on a clinical second-half display from the young Foxes as he bagged two fine efforts in the last 10 minutes.
Murty watched on as his charges lost out physically to a streetwise Leicester side, although he can take heart from the first-half Rangers display.
But ultimately this will be a sore one for the development gaffer to take as his side were overwhelmed in the second period by a stronger, more aggressive Leicester outfit.