Jesse Marsch has been Leeds United head coach for little over two weeks, but found time yesterday evening to attend his maiden U23s fixture at Elland Road. Marsch was announced as Marcelo Bielsa's replacement 15 minutes into the young Whites' Premier League 2 fixture with Tottenham Hotspur late last month, while preparations for the visit of Aston Villa were in full swing last Monday as the U23s drew 1-1 with Mansfield Town U23.
On Tuesday evening, Marsch and members of his backroom team opted to take in Leeds U23s' clash with Manchester United U23 at Elland Road - alongside 9,808 other spectators. They were treated to a 3-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Stuart McKinstry, Max Dean and recently-turned 16-year-old Archie Gray. New U23s head coach Andrew Taylor named a strong XI for the fixture, including Crysencio Summerville, Sam Greenwood, Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton in the starting line-up.
Despite a cagey opening, the team grew into the contest, finding the back of the net shortly before the 15th minute of the mark. Stuart McKinstry's confident, sweeping finish capped a well-worked Leeds move down the right-hand side. Summerville's turn and lay-off to Sam Greenwood inside the penalty area eventually provided McKinstry with a first-time shot on goal from the left-hand side of the box, after Leeds had turned over possession high up the pitch in the build-up.
