U21s Report: Leeds United 2-4 Blackburn Rovers | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 2 (Chadwick 3’, Dudley 83’)

Blackburn Rovers U21 4 (O’Grady-Macken 11’, Biniek 24’, Doherty 43’, 84’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley, Richards, Crew (Vincent 72’), Lopata-White, Toulson, Snowdon, Cresswell (C), McDonald (Douglas 46’), Chadwick, Chambers. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Lane, Monteiro.

Blackburn: Barrett (GK), Doherty (Baker 72’), Pates, Pratt (Leatherbarrow 61’), Litherland, Dunn, Doherty, Caddick (C), Biniek (Bell 72’), O’Grady-Macken, Stritch (Vare 61’). Subs not used: Khan (GK).

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Referee: Michael Crusham

Booked: O’Grady-Macken, Leatherbarrow, Vare (Blackburn)

Leeds United Under-21s fell to a frustrating defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers Under-21s in the Premier League 2, despite goals from Rhys Chadwick and Louie Dudley on a bitterly cold evening at the LNER Community Stadium.

The Whites started in emphatic fashion, when in-form midfielder Chadwick continued his scintillating form in front of goal with a close-range finish into the roof of the net.

Incisive passing in and around the Blackburn penalty area saw Joe Snowdon played through on the right, cutting an inviting ball back for the onrushing Chadwick who rifled home beyond Jack Barrett in the Rovers’ goal.

The early setback didn’t dishearten the visitors however, who went close as play resumed when Dominik Biniek fired over the bar from a narrow angle after being picked out in space.

A marauding run from full-back Rhys Doherty then saw the defender link up with Zack Stritch six yards from goal, only for a superb intervention from Dudley allowing the Whites to clear the danger.

Shortly afterwards, Blackburn did level proceedings when Harley O’Grady-Macken rose highest at a corner to loop a header back across Rory Mahady and into the far corner.

Keen to wrestle back momentum and retake the lead, Scott Gardner’s side broke with pace and Chadwick’s deep delivery found Josh McDonald at the back post, with the Scottish winger drawing a fine sprawling save from Barrett.

Another corner from the right would bring a second for Blackburn approaching the half-hour mark, when Biniek met a headed clearance with a stunning volley into the bottom corner from distance.

The Whites were then presented with a great opportunity to level once more when Sam Chambers was sent tumbling inside the area with referee Michael Crusham pointing to the spot, though Barrett guessed correctly to save Snowdon’s low spot kick superbly well.

Barrett’s services were again called upon moments later, diving to gather Chambers’ goalbound strike. A threaded pass from skipper Alfie Cresswell sent Joe Richards away down the left flank, with the full-back cutting the ball back for Chambers who struck first time.

McDonald was next to go close for United, seeing a low shot blocked well by the retreating Matty Litherland a few yards from goal.

Approaching the break, Stritch’s overlapping run was picked out cleverly by Biniek for the visitors, as the winger dragged a tame effort wide of the upright.

Rovers weren’t to be denied a third before half-time though, when Aodhan Doherty finished confidently beyond Mahady after being found in space by the lively Biniek.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-3 Blackburn Rovers U21

A first change came as the Whites emerged for the second half, with McDonald making way for Connor Douglas as Gardner looked to shuffle the pack in the bid for a route back into the clash.

The second period began in frantic fashion, end-to-end in nature but both sides were guilty of being wasteful in possession; an audacious lobbed effort from Doherty was claimed easily by Mahady in one of the few efforts on goal.

Stritch then found space in behind an advanced United backline, before great defending from Dan Toulson saw the hosts avert the danger.

Leeds were seeing a lot of the ball and a dangerous low cross from Richards nearly caused problems for Rovers, however Litherland was on hand to clear.

Momentum was beginning to be wrestled back in United’s favour and they went within inches of halving the deficit after the hour mark when Reuben Lopata-White rose highest to glance Chadwick’s in-swinging delivery back across the face of goal, though at full-stretch, Richards was unable to connect at the back post.

Fine footwork from Dudley then saw the adventurous full-back evade the challenge of Doherty and drive into the area, with desperate defending from a black and red shirt hacking the defender’s low cross away.

A second change saw winger Harvey Vincent brought into the action and the winger was immediately involved, lashing a fizzing strike narrowly over the bar after Richards had initially drawn another good save from Barrett at the end of a darting run.

Th pressure finally told with seven minutes of normal time remaining. There looked to be little on when Dudley picked up the ball on the right flank, but chopping in-field and driving to the edge of the area, the right-back curled a sublime left-footed strike into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Barrett.

Moments after the Whites had reduced the deficit, the visitors cruelly restored their two-goal lead, when Doherty was well placed to round off a counter and finish past Mahady.

Leeds still pushed for a late goal to set up a grandstand finish in York, with Toulson denied by another fantastic save from Barrett who parried away the defender’s powerful header, before Crusham’s full-time whistle sounded.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 2-4 Blackburn Rovers U21