Premier League Cup
Birmingham City U21 3 (Tattum 32’, 58’; Mazwi 65’)
Leeds United U21 2 (Chadwick 80’, Douglas 87’)
Birmingham: Mayo (GK), Pendleton (C), Pergelov, Boakye, Khela, Isichei (Wodskou 90’), Mazwi, Ellis, Kamara (Ruiz-Rente 78’), Tattum, Willis. Subs not used: O’Sullivan (GK), Dodd, Pennington.
Leeds: Christy (GK), Dudley, Ferguson, Crew (Lane 75’), Lopata-White, Debayo, Douglas, Cresswell (C), Snowdon, Chadwick, Snowdon (Toulson 60’), McDonald. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Bird, Vincent.
Venue: Arden Garages Stadium
Referee: Callum Walchester
Booked: Ellis, Khela, Mayo (Birmingham) Toulson (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-21s’ unbeaten start to the Premier League Cup group stage came to an end as they were defeated by Birmingham City Under-21s away from home.
On a bitterly cold evening in Stratford-upon-Avon, a brace from Frank Tattum and low strike from Menzi Mazwi proved the difference for the hosts, despite late goals from Rhys Chadwick and Connor Douglas setting up a tense closing stages.
Keen to continue their rich vein of form, an electric break from the Whites in the opening moments saw Joe Snowdon hold the ball up and find the run of Douglas down the left flank.
The forward, on the back of an impressive finish last time out against Gateshead, crossed early looking for Josh McDonald, but alert goalkeeping from Brad Mayo allowed the Birmingham stopper to race out and collect.
The Blues enjoyed large spells of possession inside United’s half in the game’s infancy and Sahid Kamara was first to try his luck, though his powerful left footed strike from inside the area sailed over Harry Christy’s crossbar, before a later speculative effort was easy pickings for the keeper.
O’Shea Ellis was next to fire straight at Christy from distance, with the hosts enjoying a bright start at the Arden Garages Stadium but facing a stern Leeds backline.
The Whites were beginning to grow into proceedings however and a sublime cross-field pass from Charlie Crew was brought down well by Alfie Cresswell on the right flank. His low cross eventually landed the way of Douglas on the edge of the box, who drilled a fierce drive narrowly over the upright.
Approaching the half hour mark, a dangerous in-swinging corner from the in-form Chadwick narrowly evaded the onrushing Reuben Lopata-White, as momentum began to shift in the tie.
If not for a magnificent double save from Mayo, Gardner’s side would have took the lead, firstly getting down brilliantly well to his left to claw Snowdon’s goalbound strike off the line, before reacting to deny Cresswell from close range as Leeds broke once more.
The hosts would reap the rewards of Mayo’s intervention moments later, when striker Tattum rose highest to glance Brandon Khela’s cross beyond Christy and into the back of the net.
Looking to respond before the break, Snowdon went within inches of grabbing an equaliser as he met a cross from the right, but his first time flick bounced agonisingly wide of the upright as Callum Walchester brought a frantic opening period to a close.
HALF TIME: Birmingham City U21 1-0 Leeds United U21
United came out with a point to prove in the second half and almost drew level immediately as play resumed. A searching long ball from Christy was brought down excellently by McDonald who darted into the area, dragging a low shot past the far post as a helpless Mayo watched on.
Down the other end, fine positioning from left-back Connor Ferguson allowed the defender to make a crucial block as Tattum looked to grab a second of the evening, with Zac Willis then lashing a wayward volley high and wide from the resulting corner.
The striker wasn’t to be denied for too long however, again leaping highest inside the area to meet Ellis’ looping cross from the right and glance into the corner beyond Christy.
After the hour mark, the Leeds’ keeper made a crucial save as Kamara inventively flicked a cross on target at the front post, with Tattum blazing over from distance as the hosts attacked once more.
A third did come when Mazwi’s powerful low effort flew through a number of bodies before nestling into the bottom corner.
The Whites, determined for a route back into the fixture, then had appeals for a penalty waved away by Walchester when Lopata-White’s header appeared to cannon off an arm inside the area.
United deservedly got themselves on the scoresheet when Chadwick raced onto McDonald’s pass and lifted a composed finish over the onrushing Mayo to reduce the deficit.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Gardner’s side set up a grandstand finale when Chadwick expertly picked out the run of Douglas down the right flank. Marauding into the area, the forward rifled across Mayo and into the back of the net.
Despite the relentless pressure in dying minutes, Birmingham held on for the victory, leaving Leeds with four points to their name from their opening three group stage matches, with return clashes against Charlton Athletic, Stockport County and the Blues to follow.
FULL TIME: Birmingham City U21 3-2 Leeds United U21
