Leeds United Under-21s boss Scott Gardner has taken great pride in his team’s performance from Tuesday night, despite a narrow 3-2 defeat to Accrington Stanley that saw United close out their Vertu Trophy campaign.

After the game, Gardner told leedsunited.com that the Whites had put in “a really mature performance."

“I’m unbelievably proud to have played [with 10 players] for the best part of an hour and to still have moments in the game where you can get something from it.”

Staying strong defensively was important for the team, Gardner said. “Against a league side is different from doing it in a training session or against an under-21s side, they handled the occasion well.”

Indeed, on the road, down a player, and facing experienced league footballers, Leeds battled until the end. After the hosts made it 3-1 late in the game, United got a goal back through the enterprising Harry Gray, who led the line up front and earned himself a brace.

Gardner credited the striker’s contributions, saying: “We needed an outlet, particularly with 10, and he held the ball up well.”

Three Vertu Trophy games against hardened professional competition have benefited the U21s greatly.

“What a massive opportunity it is to learn and to see what it’s like to be a full-time league player and that’s what these three games have given us,” Gardner concluded.