Recap and Ratings: Leeds u23s 2 - 2 Wolves u23s. Mark Jackson’s first match in charge ends in a draw

Leeds United’s u23 side produced a much improved performance but had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The game was quiet for 20 minutes before Leeds took the lead. Joe Gelhardt turning well in the box and powering home at the near post.

Wolves had a couple of good headed chances that were off target, Christian Marques with the best chance, before Gelhardt hit the post on the stretch from a Niall Huggins cross.

Leeds made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. Niall Huggins got in down the left again and crossed for Sam Greenwood. Greenwood looked unlikely to get there but he battled well and finished tremendously from a tight angle on his right foot, in off the far post.

Wolves got a goal back right at the start of the second half. Hugo Bueno skinned Cody Drameh going into the box and crossed for Theo Corbeanu. Charlie Cresswell tried to intercept but he missed out and it was finished at the near post.

It was 2-2 just after the hour mark. Jack Jenkins took a terrible touch and gave the ball away in a bad area to Luke Cundle, Cundle smashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Niall Huggins missed an absolute sitter with 10 minutes to go, slicing wide when he had an open goal following a Robbie Gotts shot being pushed to him by the keeper. Leeds had another chance late on as Sam Greenwood got down the right and found Gelhardt in the box but his shot was saved.

Time now to look at each player and how they performed. As always you can tell me how wrong I am @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.

STARTING LINE-UP

Dani Van Den Heuvel - Nothing to do first half as Wolves decent chances missed the target. Couldn’t be blamed for the Wolves goals. Distribution seemed fine. 6/10

Jordan Stevens - Played a good pass into Gelhardt for the opening goal. Good defensively and got forward well when the opportunity presented itself, most of the play was down the left in the first half. Similar story in the second half, picked up a yellow card just before being substituted. 7/10

Cody Drameh - Some good challenges in key areas in the first half when Wolves got into dangerous positions. Got skinned a bit too easily on the Wolves goal at the start of the second half, but he got left 1v1 a lot of times and he won almost all of them. Some excellent defending when Leeds over-committed going forward and Wolves broke. 7.5/10

Bryce Hosannah - Good, did particularly well to force a poor pass when Wolves had men over on a break away, excellent positioning to force a poor pass. Excellent in one-on-one situations throughout. Was surprised he was the centre of the back three rather than Casey/Cresswell but he looked good in the role. 7.5/10

Oliver Casey - One excellent first half block to stop a goalbound effort from Hugo Bueno that looked to have Van Den Heuvel beaten. Otherwise solid. 6.5/10

Niall Huggins - The Wales u21 international had a really strong start to the game, winning possession well and getting forward from a left-wing-back role. Set up a great chance for Gelhardt and set up Greenwood’s goal to make it 2-0. Excellent first half. Had a good second half too, unfortunately missed a sitter which could have put Leeds 3-2 ahead - open goal, in the six-yard box. 8.5/10

Alfie McCalmont - Solid in possession, only seemed to give it away when trying a difficult/killer pass. 6/10

Jack Jenkins - Looked far more comfortable back in midfield compared to playing at centre-back against Stoke City. Made a poor error to gift Wolves the ball on the edge of the box allowing Wolves to make it 2-2. 5.5/10

Stuart McKinstry - Quiet in the first half. 5/10

Joe Gelhardt - Got on the ball and looked to beat his man early on. Opened the scoring with a good finish at the near post after cutting inside to beat his man. Unlucky with a right foot shot that went off the inside of the post and across the goal line. Stood out again and looked very dangerous whenever he was on the ball. 8.5/10

Sam Greenwood - Dropped off the front well and linked up play, also showed excellent work rate when pressing Wolves defenders. Great finish to make it 2-0 from a tight angle having played the initial ball out to Huggins out wide, excellent drive to get into the box. Involved in most of the good things Leeds did in attack. Excellent desire to chase back and win the ball back in the 94th minute. 8/10

SUBSTITUTES

Robbie Gotts (for McKinstry, HT) - Spent 20 minutes in midfield before dropping to right-wing-back when Max McMillan came on. Had a good shot saved which fell to Huggins for his great chance. 6.5/10

Charlie Cresswell (for Casey, HT) - Missed a challenge for the Wolves goal early in the second half but I would be giving credit to Corbeanu rather than criticising Cresswell for it. 6/10

Max McMillan (for Stevens, 69mins) - Wasn’t in the game as much as he’d have liked. Dragged a late shot wide. 5/10