Jeremy Monga displayed “amazing personality” to persevere through the jeers, emerging as one of the few bright spots as Leicester City were eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
Monga etched his name as the youngest starter in City’s history when included in the lineup at Huddersfield, making a notable impact on the field with several dazzling displays of skill to penetrate the box.
He also faced hostility from the Huddersfield crowd. After receiving a booking for diving in the penalty area, he was incessantly booed, with loud cheers erupting each time he was challenged.
Marti Cifuentes was struck by how the teenager managed the pressure.
“I’m very happy for Jez, starting and achieving this fantastic record,” the manager said. “It shows the talent he’s got and the belief we have in him.
“I think he did really well in a game scenario that was not easy because of the early yellow card and the pressure he was getting. He showed amazing personality.
“At the end we decided just to protect him a little, as well about Saturday.”
In other News:
Liam Palmer propelled crisis-hit Sheffield Wednesday into a home Yorkshire derby against Leeds, as they narrowly defeated 10-man Bolton on penalties after a thrilling six-goal encounter.
The visitors took the lead three times through Gui Siqueira, Ike Ugbo, and Reece Johnson, but Wanderers, who saw San Inwood dismissed after just 27 minutes, equalized via Jordi Osei-Tutu, Thierry Gale, and, deep into stoppage time, Amario Cozier-Duberry, forcing a shoot-out in which goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved shots from Aaron Morley and Max Conway.
Jay Stansfield came off the bench to secure Birmingham’s progression, as they scored late to overcome Championship rivals Sheffield United 2-1.
City seized a fifth-minute advantage when Demarai Gray capitalized on Dovydas Sasnauskas’ weak backpass to set up Kyogo Furuhashi for an easy finish, but they squandered multiple opportunities to seal the game and paid the price when substitute Gustavo Hamer scored spectacularly from just inside the Birmingham half.
However, Stansfield emerged as the savior with a deflected 87th-minute winner, securing a home tie against Port Vale.
Murphy Cooper stopped George Morrison’s penalty to guide League One Barnsley to a 5-4 shoot-out victory over League Two Fleetwood after a dramatic 2-2 draw at Oakwell.
Jon Russell headed the Yorkshire side into a 15th-minute lead, but Toby Mullarkey leveled in first-half stoppage time, only to then score an own goal with 59 minutes gone, and it required a last-gasp equalizer from substitute Owen Devonport to force spot-kicks.
Goals from James Wilson and Ryan Broom, scored either side of halftime, earned League Two Cheltenham a trip to League One Cardiff with a 2-0 home victory over Exeter.