Premier League Cup

Leeds United 2 (McGurk 52’, Dean 71’)

Mansfield Town 1 (Gale 87’)

Leeds: Christy (GK), Moore, McCarron, Jenkins (c), Kenneh, Debayo, Hughes (Carole 63’), Gray, Dean, Allen, McGurk. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Littlewood, Picksley, Buchan. 

Mansfield: Shelvey (GK), Clarke (c), Charles, Cooper, Forrester, Law, Caine (Anderson 85’), Gale, Sinclair, Burke, Ward. Subs not used: Mason, Scott, Collins, Bouch. 

Mark Jackson’s Leeds United Under-23s side faced off against Mansfield Town at York City’s LNER Community Stadium on Monday evening, in the Premier League Cup.

The Group E encounter was the third match for each side in the competition and was a tightly contested affair during the first 45 minutes. 

Leeds began on the front foot and looked to test George Shelvey in the Mansfield goal early on, and did so through Kris Moore and Max Dean, but the ‘keeper stood firm and denied them both. 

Down the opposite end, Harry Christy was called into action, saving well from Nathan Caine’s close-range strike. From the resulting corner, George Cooper flicked a header against the bar for the Stags. 

In an end-to-end opening, Dean and Jenkins had further efforts on goal, whilst a dangerous free-kick from Tyrese Sinclair for the visitors meant that Christy had to be alert to save well again. 

The whistle went for the interval with the teams still level, despite their best efforts. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Mansfield Town

Shortly into the second half, Leeds did find the lead in this cup clash. Good work from Dean initially saw the striker have a shot which was blocked, and McGurk was the most aware inside the box to stab home at close range!

🔓 McGurk breaks the deadlock! pic.twitter.com/2il8dj6KF0

— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 15, 2021

Just moments later, the lively-as-ever Dean was inches away again, this time curling a left-footed strike against the cross bar and over to safety. 

Attempting to hit back immediately, Mansfield’s most dangerous looking player Sinclair trickled an effort just wide of the post when through on goal which was a let-off for the Whites. 

With 20 minutes or so remaining, Leeds doubled their advantage with a really well worked goal.  

Moore played a searching ball over the top for McGurk, who controlled and flicked a ball backwards for Dean to get the goal his play had deserved, smashing home left-footed into the top corner and doubling the advantage. 

🎯 "That's how you put the ball in the back of the net!" pic.twitter.com/CgqtrMxbXa

— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 15, 2021

Remaining alert after the second goal, the impressive Christy made a top-class stop from Jason Law’s shot inside the box, tipping another effort onto the woodwork. The ‘keeper would go on to make another two stops just moments later as the visitors sent bodies forward. 

With three minutes to go, the Leeds stopper was finally beaten though, through James Gale. The striker broke forward at pace and struck low and hard from the edge of the box, into the bottom corner to set up a nervous ending. 

In those final few seconds, both teams had chances to score as the game was stretched, but neither did and Leeds held on to claim a fully deserved and first three points of their Premier League Cup journey. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Mansfield Town

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Referee: G. Rhodes

Booked: Debayo, Christy, Allen (Leeds) Burke, Ward (Mansfield)