Leicester 2, Walsall 1, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, EFL (Jersey Mike’s) Trophy Fixture

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Russell Martin put out a strong team, not having everyone available, due to international duty, missing John Souttar (Australia), Louis Page (England U19), Liam Cullen (Wales), Harry Howell (England U19), and Ilari Kangasniemi (Finland U21).

Sammy Braybrooke, Admir Bristric and Franco Ravizzoli on the bench, giving Dai Cornell his debut in goal and also giving starts to Will Alves, Tommy Watson, Olabade Aluko and Conor Chaplin, captaining the side.

The players mentioned above, together with John Lundstram, Kamari Doyle, Warren O’Hora, Will Smallbone and Luke Thomas completing the line-up, set up in a 3-4-3 formation.

Leicester managed to pull together and build up some nice attacks and in the 20th minute John Lundstram scored with an over-head kick to level it 👏 #LEIWSL

Leicester pushed for more and according to stats all in control, having 72% ball possession in the game overall. Then a nice strike from Will Smallbone in the 32nd minute gave Leicester the lead in the game.

Leicester finished the first half in control and looked positive, aside from Walsall’s goal.

Into the @JerseyMikesTpy Round of 32 👉#LEIWSL | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/qm2RA62mUs
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 10, 2026

Coming out second half we hoped for more fun and joy, but it all became difficult again, sloppy passing, hard working Walsall players having a physical style, which in a way can be difficult for Leicester to handle, but again a few half chances could have given Leicester more goals, but it was not be.

Sammy Braybrooke, BDCR, Woyo Coulibaly and Tommy Neale were give minutes, Braybrooke and BDCR coming on in the 70th minute, Coulibaly in the 77th and Neale in the 89th. Will Smallbone, Conor Chaplin, Tommy Watson and Kamari Doyle were the players that came off.

BDCR had the best chance in the second half after Olabade Aluko made an impressive run, but BDCR failed to finish it, taking a poor touch before the goalkeeper saved the ball.

You should not complain when you win a game of football. The result was based on a solid first half, second half never became what we had hoped for, playing in front of a small crowd and a lot of empty seats.

With this win, Leicester are through to the knock out rounds in this tournament, as it could hopefully be a positive to get more players involved and in form, going forward.

Positives

Coming back from 1-0 down
Great goals from Will Smallbone and John Lundstram
Again dominating with 72% possession
Dai Cornell getting his debut, also rare starts for Olabade Aluko, Conor Chaplin, Admir Bristric and Tommy Watson
Bringing the team into the knock out stages of this tournament
Some nice passes from Warren O’Hora that could have led to goals oppertunities

Negatives

Again cracking in crucial situations, letting in a sloppy goal after 10 minutes
No ability to build up proper attacking triangles and setting up the forward in goal positions
Second half was again difficult and a lot of strange passing and ball moving
The midfield lacking the creativity and correct movement to get attacking players set up correctly
As so many times before Will Alves couldn’t make the final and most important touch effectively enough
Not more than 4 shots on target, shows that this team have a finishing problem
Not taking the game on in the second half as Leicester should have, not at all convincing

Line Up:
Cornell 6, Thomas 6, O’Hora 7, Aluko 6, Lundstram 6, Smallbone 6, Chaplin 5, Doyle 5, Bristric 5, Watson 6, Alves 6 Subs: Braybrooke, Neale, Coulibaly, BDCR