Gaetano Berardi completed 45 minutes on his return from injury as our Under-23s were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City on Monday evening.

Berardi, who had been sidelined since limping off during last month’s opening day Championship defeat away to Queens Park Rangers, was replaced at the break as planned ahead of kick-off on a night where Jason Blunt’s side would have been worthy of all three points at Elland Road.

Jack McKay broke the deadlock just 10 minutes in and Leeds had chances to extend their advantage, only for Jake Andrew’s curling second-half free-kick to ensure the spoils would be shared.

The United youngsters were first to threaten as Eoghan Stokes fired a low strike agonisingly wide from the edge of the after skipping away from his marker just six minutes in. It was a bright start to proceedings from the hosts and one which continued as McKay opened the scoring in the 10th minute, converting on the rebound from close-range after Jamie Shackleton’s initial attempt had cannoned kindly into his path.

Stokes and Mallik Wilks looked lively in attack, both taking turns to threaten as the first half progressed, before the visitors spurned their best opening just after the half-hour mark as Cameron Ping dinked the ball straight into Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s arms from inside the area.

Peacock-Farrell also held an effort from Connor Lemon-Haigh Evans on the stroke of half-time, before United, with Amadou Haidara lining up in defence in place of Berardi, made a lively start to the second period as Wilks lashed wide within minutes of the restart.

Stokes then fired over after finding space 20 yards out, but City set off in search of an equaliser and saw a couple of efforts from distance fly wide before pulling themselves level on 70 minutes.

Andrews was the goalscorer, curling home an unstoppable free-kick from the edge of the area after Tyler Denton was adjudged to have bundled over James Difford – a foul which saw the full-back yellow carded and United made to pay for.

At the opposite end, Wilks sent a towering header flying inches over the bar after meeting a pin-point cross from substitute Tom Pearce and Haidara escaped his marker at the back post but could only blaze over Pearce’s corner as it ended honours even.

Under-23s team vs Bristol City: Peacock-Farrell, Berardi (Haidara 45), Vann, M Taylor, Denton, Shackleton, Oduor, Shaughnessy (Pearce 52), Stokes, J McKay, Wilks. Subs not used: Richardson, Romario Vieira, Nicell.