Leeds United Under-23s: Tyler Roberts bags brace as Whites topple Sheffield United
Carlos Corberan called on first-team squad members Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison for the game at Stocksbridge Park as Izzy Brown missed out despite expecting to play and will now feature in some capacity in Friday's Premier League Cup tie at Newcastle United.
It was the hosts who started the brighter of the two teams as Kamil Miazek was forced into early action with the goalkeeper having to pounce at David Parkhouse's feet to stop him from opening the scoring.
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Hide AdThe Blades continued their good play and saw a penalty claim turned down as Reece York was sent tumbling to the floor but referee Nathan Cox waved away the appeals.
Cox though handed Leeds a spot kick just moments later as Jack Harrison tripped over a loose Blades leg after a lovely run from the halfway line with the winger jinking in and out of several players before linking up with Clarke Oduor.
Roberts duly sent United goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst the wrong way from 12-yards to break the deadlock in what had been a frantic opening 20 minutes.
Leeds took confidence from the goal and started to play freely with Sheffield United pushing on for a leveller before the break.
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Hide AdIt was Corberan's side who doubled their advantage though ahead of the interval as forward Kun Mihaylov collected the ball inside the Blades half and saw his shot from distance take a huge deflection before nestling into the bottom corner of the net.
The Whites would take an unassailable lead less than 60 seconds into the second period as they surged forward from kick-off.
Sam Dalby picked out Roberts on the edge of the area who cleverly flicked the ball up for himself before volleying wonderfully over Dewhurst who was left rooted to the spot.
Sheffield United struggled to muster a response as substitute Jake Young smashed the inside of the post just moments after stepping off the bench.
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Hide AdThe Blades did however grab a consolation goal through Simeon Oure as the striker made the most of some lacklustre Leeds defending to calmly slot home past Miazek in the closing minutes of the game.
United boss Corberan, who saw his side returning to winning ways following two league two defeats in a row, said afterwards: "I'm proud of the players and the performance. We played with the right intensity and the right focus."
Sheffield United Under-23s XI: Dewhurst, Cantrill, Lafferty, Doherty, Wright, York, Sheppeard, Parkhouse, Oure, Kalinauskas, Mallon. Subs: Gordan, Amissah, Broadbent, Boyes, Young.
Leeds United Under-23s XI: Miazek, Burlace, Struijk, Shackleton, Nicell, Oduor, Stevens, Kun, Roberts, Dalby, Harrison. Subs: Rae, Wollerton, Clarke, Davis, Edmondson.