Under-18s coach Jason Blunt felt his side deserved more after exiting the FA Youth Cup at the hands of holders Chelsea.

The visitors opened the scoring at Elland Road through Isaiah Brown's first-half penalty, but Blunt's youngsters put in a spirited display as they chased an equaliser with Chelsea reduced to 10 men.

Goalkeeper Bradley Collins was shown a straight red card for hauling down Robbie McDaid just after the break, and United, urged forward by 2,249 fans, threatened through the likes of McDaid and strike partner Frank Mulhern 

But they were unable to make their pressure tell as Chelsea broke up-field with little over 10 minutes remaining on the clock and Dominic Solanke was able to wrap things up for last year's winners.

"I thought we were outstanding," said Blunt.

"We created chances and I thought we should have taken them. I’m disappointed to come away losing.

"We started off really well. We set out to get at them and I thought we did. I thought we created a good tempo and passed the ball well.

"I think with the opportunities we had, we should have done a lot better than we did.

"I thought if we carried on playing the way we were playing, more chances would have come, especially when they went down to 10 men.

"It could have been easier to go a lot more direct but I think when you’re against 10 you’ve got to pass the ball and be patient."

Chelsea arrived at Elland Road with a fierce reputation, sitting top of the Southern U18s Premier League and having lifted the trophy three times in the last five years.

But Blunt believes his side proved themselves to be more than a match for the London club.

"I think we were all a bit apprehensive before the game but we wanted to be positive," he said.

"I think the boys did exceptionally well and on another day could have won.

"Some of them showed that they can step up and play on a big occasion. I think the intensity, the way we played and the tackles we made got the fans on our side.

"I’d like to think the fans went away quite away quite pleased with what we’re trying to create.

"Even when they went down to 10 men, we did it the right way. We tried to pass our way through them. Although it didn’t work, the boys should come away with a lot of credit.

"Now they’ve got to carry on with that, they’ve got to keep that standard up. We’ve been inconsistent this season but they’ve proved to themselves they can do it. It’s the consistency they need to learn if they’re going to make it to professionals.

"We were supposedly playing the cream of the crop of the country. At times it didn’t look like that.

"It shows we’re doing something right at the Academy, the way we’re getting them to play, the attitude and the way they apply themselves."