Leeds United Under-21s nearing automatic promotion territory as Mateo Joseph hits goals milestone - YEP 19/3/23

-


Leeds United's Under-21 side moved one step closer to top flight football next season with a home win over Sunderland Under-21s at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.

Joe Donnohue

Goals from Mateo Joseph (2) and Sonny Perkins ensured Leeds restored a three-point lead at the top of Premier League 2 Division 2 ahead of promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest and Southampton.

The Whites named a strong line-up featuring Archie Gray, Perkins, Joseph and in-form Darko Gyabi. The latter, a £5 million summer signing, has established himself as a standout in several fixtures for the Under-21s and produced another imperious performance in the middle.

Somewhat less imposing, but equally impactful, winger Charlie Allen added two assists setting up Joseph in each half for his 14th and 15th league goals of the campaign.

It was Allen's industrious work down the right flank which yielded the game's opener, slipping in between two defenders before laying finding Joseph, recent England Under-20 call-up recipient.

The Spanish-born forward needed only one opportunity to find the back of the net, lashing it beyond the Black Cats' stopper with his first attempt.

Sunderland hit back through France Under-21 international Isaac Lihadji's deflected effort but were largely second-best throughout. Leeds maintained their grip with a strong midfield base in Gyabi and Gray, supported by family members including his younger brother, currently representing Leeds' Under-16s.

Gyabi, meanwhile, demonstrated his dominance over agemates and fellow PL2 midfielders, turning out of trouble on several occasions and carrying the ball well. For Leeds' second, the 19-year-old replicated Willy Gnonto's run to the byline a day earlier at Molineux to set up Jack Harrison.

On this occasion, Sonny Perkins was the target and the England Under-19 attacker made no mistake sweeping the ball into the net for 2-1.

The second half brought fewer opportunities but greater control, despite a raft of home changes. Allen's guile, stamina and speed from a standing start made him a particular threat late on and eventually paid dividends, crossing for Joseph's second of the game, finished emphatically from close range.

Leeds remain top of the table with three games remaining this season.

Leeds United XI: Robles (GK), Debayo (McGurk 65'), Moore, Mullen, Ferguson (Monteiro 26'), Gray (Crew 65'), Gyabi, Snowdon, Allen, Perkins (Spencer 79'), Joseph (c)

Unused subs: Van den Heuvel

Sunderland XI: Bass (GK), Huggins (Crompton 46'), Taylor (c), Johnson (Kachosa 85'), Anderson, Ekwah (Burke 46'), Lihadji, Rigg (Moore 79'), Gardiner, Kelly, Middlemas

Unused subs: Metcalf

Attendance: 3,780

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o
Read more