Ollie Pickles and Jacob Render fired Leeds United Under-21s to a 3-0 victory against National League side Gateshead FC Wednesday night in Tyne and Wear.

But U21s boss Scott Gardner thinks the Whites could have had more. “It was a good result,” he told leedsunited.com. “But I am actually quite disappointed because I thought we could have scored five or six.

“I have mixed feelings, because we could have gone and made a real statement tonight.”

Gardner was pleased with the goals United did get, however, and praised Pickles, whose brace included an 81st minute top corner screamer.

“I thought he was our best player on the night. He is developing well and deserved those two goals. I want to see him do that more often.”

Overall, Gardner views Leeds’ now-complete National League Cup campaign as a valuable learning experience for the young footballers.

“This opportunity to play against senior teams and see the other side of the game and the physicality, it is massive. I am obviously disappointed we have not gone on to the next half like we did last year, but I am still grateful.”

Gardner is glad, too, that the match against the Tynesiders gave him a chance to reintegrate striker Marley Wilson, who has missed much of the last two years to injury.

Wilson earned his first ever start for the U21s and played an hour. “I give credit to him and the work he has put in,” Gardner remarked.

“I actually thought he probably could have played a little longer, but we want to be patient with him.”

Now, the young Whites will have three weeks to prepare for their next clash, a Premier League International Cup meeting with the academy of German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund.