Luke Parkin stepped off the bench to head home a late winner as our Under-21s came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 on Monday evening.

It took the United youngsters just two minutes to have their first sight of goal at Elland Road as Chris Dawson split the Brentford defence with a through ball for Lewis Walters to fire inches wide from inside the area.

Kalvin Phillips then tested goalkeeper Mark Smith down to his right, before Brian Montenegro looked to have given his side the lead with a close-range header on 19 minutes. After Adryan had rattled the crossbar, replays suggested Montenegro’s nodded rebound had crossed the line, but the Paraguayan’s protests were waved away.

The visitors threatened through Jermaine Udumaga at the opposite end, but United were seeing the better of the chances and Adryan was sent hurtling through by Phillips, only to see his low effort blocked by the legs of Smith before the Brentford defence scrambled his rebound behind.

Phillips fired a first-time effort just over the bar shortly before the whistle was blown on a goalless opening 45 minutes. After the two sides re-emerged unchanged, it was Phillips who had the second half’s first opening as he drilled into Smith’s arm during a fast-paced start to the second period.

Ross Killock then saw his towering header clutched in the air by Smith following Dawson’s corner, before the Brentford stopper was again called into action to thwart Montenegro one-on-one with a smart block.

Despite United’s pressure and numerous chances in front of goal, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock on 61 minutes through Courtney Senior as he fired past Alex Cairns from inside from inside the area.

Lewie Coyle was then inches away from an equalising within four minutes, cutting inside from the right before curling a left-footed effort just wide.

United did manage to deservedly level after 79 minutes through Dario Del Fabro’s close-range header. Adryan’s whipped free-kick from the left caused problems among the Brentford defence, and Del Fabro was there to force it home.

The hosts continued to push forward and, after Del Fabro had headed wide, their pressure paid off as second-half substitute Luke Parkin glanced home a near-post header following Dawson’s inviting corner to secure the three points.

United team: Cairns, Coyle, Del Fabro, Killock, Denton, Purver (Parkin 70), Phillips, Dawson, Adryan, Walters, Montenegro. Subs: Grimes, Skelton, Vann, Lyman.