Leeds United U23s' four-game unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday afternoon as the young Whites were defeated in the capital by Chelsea's development squad. The match hosted at Stamford Bridge in front of a small number of spectators - including travelling Leeds United fans - ended 1-0 to the home side.
Thierno Ballo's 14th-minute strike was enough to seal all three points for the Blues, lifting them out of the two-team relegation places in Premier League 2 Division 1. Leeds have four league matches before the end of the season, and are not yet safe from the threat of an immediate return to PL2 Division 2.
U23s head coach Andrew Taylor was left frustrated by the youngsters' inability to defend better in transition, as well as a few profligate moments in the final third: "It lacked quality, it lacked pitch personality, is what I've just said to them in there," Taylor said. "It was almost like we were waiting for something to happen rather than making it happen.
"Before the game we said we need to defend the box well, which on the whole I think we did. However, it was a bit before that that we weren't very good at," Taylor told LeedsLive. "We cleaned up our mess pretty well. We defended the box pretty well barring the goal," he added. Central defender Nohan Kenneh was amongst Leeds' best performers on the day, along with centre-forward Max Dean whose ceaseless work-rate did not waiver from start to finish.
Central midfielder Lewis Bate made a return to the starting XI at the home of his former side after being substituted with a knee complaint in the 3-0 midweek victory over Manchester United U23s. He lasted 60 minutes, before a collision expedited his withdrawal.
"He'd been struggling with his knee from Tuesday night," Taylor said. "He's managed it along. He's been on the anti-inflammatories and everything else and then I think he just received another little knock in there. So yeah, it was just a precaution. I don't think it's too bad," the U23s head coach stated, passing comment on the recurring issue which forced Bate's premature substitution on Tuesday evening as well as at Stamford Bridge.
Winger Crysencio Summerville was also missing from the travelling squad, despite being an unused substitute during the 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night. U23 teammates Sam Greenwood, Charlie Cresswell and Kristoffer Klaesson all replaced injured first-team players during the topsy-turvy encounter at Molineux and were understandably left out of the trip to Stamford Bridge with the development squad.
Summerville was one of several Leeds substitutes who invaded the pitch following Luke Ayling's 91st-minute winner against Wolves. Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Nohan Kenneh and the 20-year-old Dutchman were among those who made a beeline for the celebrating Whites defender on the opposite side of the stadium.
"Fantastic," Taylor said of the youngsters' reaction. "And that's what it's all about, I think for the club itself, winning the game, the way the game went, unbelievable. I was on the couch, celebrating on my own, you know, it was a fantastic win for the club."
Referee Kevin Friend reprimanded the Leeds substitutes who had contravened the rules as they returned to the bench. U23s coach Taylor stated there was no injury to Summerville which had kept him out of the youngsters' fixture in West London: "I think it's just to do with the first team involvement from Friday."
Instead, the Dutchman has been protected as Leeds' pool of wide players is currently depleted with the COVID-enforced absence of Raphinha who is now expected to miss Brazil's World Cup qualifying fixtures this month. Summerville, meanwhile, is expected to join up with the Netherlands U21 setup this week.
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