Our development squad host Leicester City in Premier League 2 action tonight, kick-off is 7pm and you can watch the game live on the 5th Stand app or on the Chelsea website.
The game at Kingsmeadow will be our first in three league fixtures there before Christmas, and Andy Myers’ men will be searching for their first three points since the 3-2 win over Derby at Cobham in October. Here, we preview the action ahead of kick-off.
How to watch and kick-off time
We will have live coverage of the entire game live and for free on the 5th Stand app and the website. Kick-off is 7pm and there will be updates via the @Chelseafc twitter account with a report on the app and website following full-time.
Our form
The point against Manchester City last time out was our first since the end of October. Billy Gilmour and Myles Peart-Harris were on target in the second half to rescue a result in the North-West.
The opposition
Leicester have picked up some form of late, 11 goals in their last three games have handed them wins over Brighton, West Ham and Tottenham.
In our title-winning campaign last season, Leicester came closest to our top-spot finish. At the time of its curtailment the Foxes were on 35 points in second place, having lost only three games in that term.
From the dressing room
Peart-Harris has enjoyed a good start to the Premier League 2 season, recording three goals and three assists thus far including the equaliser against Manchester City last time out.
After making the step up to development squad football for the first time, the 18-year-old feels he has adapted well to the change and wants to continue improving his game over time.
‘I’ve had a better start than I expected, I’ve shocked myself as well as my family. Jumping from the Under-18s to Under-23s is a lot more physical and tactical – but I feel I have had a good start and just want to push on and be consistent from here on,’ he told us.
‘I didn’t play Under-23s football last season and I thought adapting would be a big challenge, which it has been, but I think I’ve coped well. I’ve improved my game physically which has helped as at this level you come up against players of all ages.’
Myers’ men will take confidence from the City point last time out and the tall midfielder believes being at home will give us a boost after four games on the road.
‘The end of October and into November was a bit of a down period for us with the losses against Everton and Liverpool but in the EFL trophy against Bristol we performed really well and were just unlucky on the night,’ he said. 'Against Man City I think we deserved more as a team, but a draw away against a good side is a good result and we want to take the good performance into Leicester tonight.
‘All the travelling was tough for us with tired legs, having three home games in a row will be good for the team - we get to train more which means we will be sharper and fresher on matchday. I think it will give us a little boost.’
After three straight wins for the Foxes and having scored five in the win over Tottenham on Monday night, our development squad are expecting another competitive game tonight.
‘We know Leicester are a good team, they are coming into the game off the back of a 5-1 result against Tottenham on Monday so they will be confident. We are expecting them to compete, but our preparations have been good, everyone is working hard and our last two results will give us a boost ahead of tonight.’