Premier League Cup
Monday 15th November 2021
This was a meaningful and worthwhile work-out for players from both teams as Leeds United very narrowly edged out Mansfield Town in this Premier League Cup tie at York City's new LNER Community Stadium.
It was a high energy, high-tempo encounter with loads of running involved and it had plenty of chances at both ends. The key difference was Leeds took the openings which came their way whereas Mansfield didn't; striking the woodwork on two occasions, missing a couple and being denied by the 'keeper numerous times before James Gale eventually put the ball in the net in the 88th minute.
There were some quality players on the pitch with United's Archie Gray standing out along with Max Dean showed clever glimpses of tidy technique and positional awareness in attack. James Debayo also performed strongly at the heart of the backline too - looking comfortable on the ball, carrying it out of defence, and being efficient when he needed to be.
Mansfield competed well against a quality team though and despite Tyrese Sinclair enduring one of those nights when the ball basically just wouldn't go in for him, he contributed a lot of positive energy - linking things up, running at players and posing a serious attacking threat. It was an alright showing (bar the finishing) but at least he's getting in decent shooting positions anyway. Likewise, Keaton Ward put in a proper shift and supplemented attacks well - more so as the game progressed, and Jason Law showed bits of quality on the ball at set-plays. Jaden Charles, bar that short attempted back-pass late on, made a couple of crucial interceptions under pressure at times - especially during an intense first 45 minutes.
Overall, it was a good and worthwhile shift for many players involved with loads of energy, drive and desire shown and certainly one of the better and more intense U23s games which I've witnessed this season.
It was evident from an early stage that Mansfield would need to be very alert and retaining their shape out-of-possession would be of fundamental importance as Leeds (who initially had more possession) moved the ball around quickly, aggressively, sharply and showed a real 'zip and zest' about their play.
A wet pitch only further aided their style and Gray was often at the heart of things in midfield.
The Stags, however, weren't just going to be dominated by United's younger yet very technical counterparts and couldn't be faulted for their effort levels. In one instance, Sinclair tracked back deep into his own half and subsequently switched a good pass out wide to a team-mate during strong pressure (a very good contribution as sometimes 'flair' players don't like tracking back and getting their hands dirty with defensive work), whilst Charles was also required to make a couple of important interceptions in order to keep the hosts at arms length.
On the quarter-hour mark, Mansfield mustered up the very first of what proved to be a string of good opportunities as an attempt by Gale was blocked by Whites 'keeper Harry Christy who re-adjusted himself quickly and did enough to thwart Nathan Caine on the follow-up.
The Stags went close again just a moment or so later when Sinclair's whipped in free-kick from out wide caught a glancing touch from George Cooper which carried the ball goalwards where it clipped the upright as it went over. Unlucky!
George Shelvey then held a speculative low drive from the edge of the area as Leeds responded with a decent opening of their own, but it was still Mansfield who were shading things in the chances stakes as the midway point of the first half came to pass.
Sinclair's pace, directness and athleticism caused the Whites defence problems on a few occasions though it was from a speculative and surprising long-range free-kick that he nearly found the target on the half-hour mark; Christy producing a good diving save to tip the effort wide of his left-hand post.
From Law's subsequent back-post corner, Will Forrester rose highest and connected with a firm downward header yet somehow the ball was knocked away from the goal-line when it seemed as if the net was about to bulge. Play was quickly recycled, via a deflected cross, where the Leeds 'keeper eventually managed to get both gloves on the ball and end the danger.
It could be argued the Stags looked most threatening at set-plays and one five minutes before the interval resulted in Gale squandering the clearest yet and most gilt-edged of chances.
Sinclair's initial free-kick was a disappointing one by his standards as it lacked the venom or accuracy to be dangerous and it just hit the last defender on the wall. Nevertheless, it dropped kindly for his bulky team-mate with a decent physical presence who snatched at his shot - blazing the ball high over the upright when as a bare minimum he ought to have tested the 'keeper.
That miss was the biggest of the lot because Leeds were still playing a lot of neat, fluid and good football between the lines - and in-between these chances. Plus, bagging an opener just before half-time is never a bad time to make a breakthrough!
Ir proved doubly costly because within a few minutes of the re-start, it was Leeds who got the all-important first goal courtesy of Sean McGurk who stabbed a toe-end towards Dean's initial low effort to send the ball trickling past a rooted-to-the-spot Shelvey from only a matter of yards out.
The opener almost caused the floodgates to open because Dean caught the upright two minutes later with a shot on the back of a jinking run as Mansfield, having done well to retain their shape and thwart their hosts up until now, were starting to show signs that they could be about to fall apart.
United were enjoying plenty of success playing out from the back and then working the ball through the middle but this didn't stop chances going the Stags' way at the other end.
Twice within only four minutes past the hour mark should Mansfield have been back on level terms; Sinclair flashing a powerful drive across goal and agonisingly wide of Christy's left-hand post after Gale had mugged a Leeds defender on the edge of his own box, before the playmaker skimmed the ball wide of the other post following an inviting lay-off by Law.
Gale also went close as he demonstrated good hold-up play, partly down to his physical presence, prior to unleashing a cleanly-struck snap-shot from 20 yards that went wide. Ward then also got in on the act - going on a run but seeing his effort equalled by a good solid save from Christy who just moments earlier had been booked for time-wasting.
Having somehow not managed to put the ball in the back of the net, it was sods law that the Stags would pay for their profligacy and so it proved on 72 minutes as McGurk and Dean combined once more to make it 2-0 - the former connecting with a deep cross on the byline and hooking it back towards the edge of the six-yard box where Dean was arriving to smash it first time past Shelvey.
Mansfield didn't give up though and to their credit, they dominated things during the final quarter-of-an-hour where they created a flurry of further opportunities.
Law saw an attempt blocked by Debayo before Ryan Burke whistled a 20-yard drive narrowly over the upright in one attack and, within 60 seconds of that chance, Law himself had clipped the upright with a deflected attempt on the back of some good individual play.
Ward's subsequent corner from that chance nearly dropped kindly inside the Leeds area though, instead, the ball was hooked away and almost ended with the Whites bagging a third goal as Charles' intended back-pass for Shelvey was much too short and put Gray clean through - only for the Stags' 'keeper to pull off a good, meaningful save.
Charles responded by stinging the Leeds 'keeper's gloves with a venomous near-post drive at the other end, having been put through by Sinclair, but just as Christy might have been thinking about a hard-earned clean-sheet that was undone as Gale found the bottom corner with a low edge-of-the-box shot to make it 2-1 with around two minutes remaining.
Leeds' performance and movement of the ball was really good at times but on the balance of chances it was Mansfield who deserved something to show for their efforts and during five minutes of injury-time they were thwarted yet again by the impressive Whites custodian.
It was arguably the Stags' two best performers on the night who combined for this final chance as Sinclair drifted out to the right-hand side and hooked a fabulous ball towards the edge of the six-yard box and straight onto the head of Ward whose firm and planted header was saved by Christy who scooped the ball into his grasp at the second attempt.
Another 'close shave' but it was just one of those nights!
The final whistle after five minutes of injury-time brought the curtain down on an absorbing, intense and high-energy game of football where a lot of running and effort was put in by both sets of players. Sometimes you need to be in a stadium to appreciate the feel of a game and this was one of those occasions and it was backed by a small yet lively crowd who played their part as well.
Along with earlier observations, on a personal level it was brilliant to see Keaton Ward out there on a football pitch enjoying himself and, importantly, contributing a great deal to the overall team performance. It contrasts a hell of a lot compared to this time exactly a year ago and if you stop for a moment, take stock and look at the differences between then and now, it's been a hell of a journey. Well done mate - you've come through a tough patch, learned loads and made a lot of people proud!
There were other good performances too as I've pointed out - and again I'll highlight Tyrese Sinclair's contribution and work where he tracked and found a team-mate with a pass under a hell of a lot of pressure. That doesn't get missed by these eyes; just keep your head up with regards to the missed chances and concentrate on the next one which comes along!
The only thing I'm left to wonder about this game is what sort of impact Ethan Hill (who, incidentally, happens to the best 'footballer' I've seen in Mansfield's U18s over the past season or so) would’ve made in this game? Could he have handled the pace/intensity or would it have been too much? He's good in possession, technical and a player I'd love to see more from, and it's a fleeting thought I've had a couple of times whilst writing this article/report for the last hour-and-a-half.
Next Game: Doncaster Rovers (U18s) vs Rotherham United (U18s) in the FA Youth Cup Second Round.
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