Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 2 (Thomas 32’, Chadwick 68’)

West Bromwich Albion U21 1 (Dauda 19’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Cresswell, Bird, Coleman, Lopata-White (Moore 60’), Mullen, Vincent (Dudley 87’), McFadden (Toulson 82’), Thomas, Chadwick, Richards. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Pickles.

West Brom: Cisse (GK), Nelson, Shaw, Dauda (Richards 72’), Hall (C), Diomande, Heard (Chimeziri 64’), Deeming, Sule, Whitwell, Bostock (Higgins 72’). Subs not used: Wallis (GK), Parker.

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Referee: Daniel Middleton

Booked: McFadden, Toulson, Coleman (Leeds) Deeming, Cisse, Chimeziri (West Brom)

Leeds United Under-21s made it three wins on the spin as they came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion Under-21s at the LNER Community Stadium.

Iddrisa Dauda had put the visitors into the lead in the first-half before Luca Thomas’ rich vein of form continued as he grabbed a leveller, with Rhys Chadwick’s low drive after the break sealing another important three points.

Coming into the fixture on the back of fine results against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s and Boston United, Scott Gardner’s side looked to set the tone early on against the Baggies.

Coban Bird found space on the left in the opening minutes and swung in an inviting delivery which evaded forward Thomas, and good defending at the back post from a yellow shirt prevented Harvey Vincent from having a sight of goal.

West Brom ‘keeper Ben Cisse was then called into action for the first time as he saved well to deny Thomas’ powerful low drive from the edge of the area, with the offside flag raised regardless on the far side.

A fixture that was slow in bursting into life, Rory Mahady’s first involvement in the Whites’ goal came after a quarter of an hour, when the Scotland youth international was equal to Dauda’s well struck effort.

There was nothing that Mahady could do about Dauda’s next chance however, as the midfielder finished confidently into the back of the net after being picked out well by Harry Whitwell as the visitors took the lead.

Parity was almost restored immediately as Vincent latched onto Rhys Chadwick’s intelligent through ball, but the winger dragged wide of Cisse’s far post from the edge of the area.

Leeds were controversially denied an equaliser approaching the 30th minute. Jeremiah Mullen rose highest to head a Chadwick corner home at the back post but, following a very late flag and after deliberating with his assistant, referee Daniel Middleton ruled out the leveller for a foul on the Baggies’ keeper.

Gardner’s side weren’t to be behind for long however, when Thomas continued his remarkable goalscoring run as he netted his ninth goal in seven matches!

Chadwick threaded a fine pass for Vincent on the right to race onto, before the winger’s cross deflected kindly into the forward’s path who made no mistake from eight yards out.

A few moments later, Thomas was presented with a golden opportunity to put his side ahead from the spot, after Mullen was sent tumbling in the area.

Cisse held his nerve however, guessing correctly to impressively save the penalty kick, with Thomas unable to bundle home the rebound as the visitors survived.

Approaching the break, Cole Deeming saw a speculative effort sail over the upright, but neither team were able to get themselves in front as Middleton brought the opening half to a close.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-1 West Bromwich Albion U21

Moments after the restart, fine positioning from Cian Coleman saw the midfielder intercept a low cross inside his own penalty area with Baggies’ forward Eseosa Sule lurking 12 yards out.

Down the other end and Coleman was involved once more, playing an incisive pass to Chadwick who flashed a fizzing delivery across the face of goal which somehow evaded everybody in white.

After sustaining a spell of pressure from the away side, which included great challenges from Alfie Cresswell and Joe Richards, the Whites launched an electric counter with just over 20 minutes left to play.

Thomas evaded one challenge before swinging a superb long ball in behind the Baggies’ backline which Chadwick raced onto, with the midfielder charging to the edge of the area before drilling a fierce low shot beyond the despairing dive of Cisse and into the bottom corner!

In what was becoming quite a stop-start affair through substitutions and injuries, the visitors searched for an equaliser and controlled a lot of the play inside the Whites’ half.

Whitwell struck a powerful effort from distance which Mahady was equal to initially with a diving save, before great positioning from substitute Kris Moore saw him make a pivotal block to deny Sule.

Despite the persistent pressure from the West Midlands outfit, Leeds defended strongly as a unit, limiting Whitwell to another speculative strike as the Whites professionally saw the match out for their third win in a week!

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 2-1 West Bromwich Albion U21