Checkatrade Trophy: Leicester City U21 0 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

A second half strike from Amadou Bakayoko was enough to ensure Jon Whitney's side topped Northern Group H after they previously secured wins over Grimsby and Sheffield United.

In an entertaining clash at the King Power Stadium, Josh Ginnelly, Liam Kinsella and Matt Preston all performed well against a Foxes under-21 side.

The victory means Walsall are now guaranteed a home draw in the next round, with the tie due to be played in December.

With both teams entering the clash having already secured their place in the second round, boss Whitney plumped for youthful side when naming his starting XI.

Youngsters Matt Preston, Callum Cockerill-Mollett, George Dobson, Liam Kinsella and Josh Ginnelly were all given a rare chance to impress.

There was also start up front for striker Amadou Bakayoko, fresh from the 20-year-old committing his long term future to the club by signing a new deal on Monday.

Leicester named three over-age players in their under-21s side with Marcin Wasilewski, Matty James and Leonard Ulloa all included.

On a cold evening at the King Power Stadium, the home side came flying out the blocks and almost took the lead inside five minutes.

A wonderful through ball from James split the Saddlers defence and sent Ulloa galloping in on goal.

But Craig MacGillivray was quick to read the danger and raced off his line to expertly smoother at the striker's feet.

Both teams had showed their intent to get the ball down and play a patient, passing game in the opening 20 minutes.

And with Isaiah Osbourne dominant in the middle of the park and Kinsella lively in the number 10 role, it was the Saddlers who threatened next.

Osbourne's clever ball saw Franck Moussa get in behind the Leicester defence, and from a tight angle, the former Southend man cannoned a strike against the outside of the post.

Suddenly it was all Walsall with Whitney's side coming close again when Preston rose highest from a corner only to power his header over bar.

Leicester responded with Ulloa turning in the box and cutting the ball back to Alex Pascanu who fired narrowly wide from 20-yards.

But that proved to be the last meaningful action of the half with Walsall making their way off at the break having done well to frustrate their opponents while also looking good in possession.

It was the Saddlers who started the second half on the front foot with Whitney's men sending in a number of crosses that were well dealt with by Wasilewski and Yohan Benalouane.

But the visitor's pressure told as the clock ticked towards the hour mark with Bakayoko grabbing his sixth goal of the campaign.

Good play from McCarthy and Ginnelly saw the duo combine down the right with the defender then sending in a cross which Bakayoko side-footed home from close range.

Buoyed, the Saddlers almost made it two just minutes later. Ginnelly latched on to Kevin Toner's long ball and produced a smart turn in the box before seeing a strike well blocked by Pascanu.

Full of confidence, Whitney's side were now passing the ball around at will with Leicester struggling to regain possession or get a foothold on the game.

And the rampant Saddlers came a whisker away from putting the game to bed in the 82nd minute when Ginnelly latched onto a long through ball.

The youngster cut onto his right foot and curled a wonderful strike that looked destined to nestle into the top corner but instead cannoned off the crossbar and bounced to safety.

With the fourth official indicating three minutes of stoppage time, Leicester almost grabbed a late equaliser when Admiral Muskew was denied by a brilliant sliding challenge from Preston.

And the Saddlers saw out the rest of the game comfortably to register their third straight win in the competition.

Leicester: Hamer, Pascanu (Wood 78), Benalouane, Wasilewski, Debayo, Barnes, Miles, James, Ndukwu (Uche 64), Ulloa, Muskwe.

Subs not used: Iversen, Watts, Mitchell.

Walsall: MacGillivray, McCarthy, Toner, Preston, Cockerill-Mollett, Osbourne, Dobson, Kinsella, Moussa, Ginnelly (Shorrock 89), Bakayoko (Sangha 78).

Subs not used: Etheridge, Laird, Jackson, Oztumer, Roberts.