"The future of Leeds United is very promising" - Mark Jackson 'proud' of Whites players, fans and staff in Manchester United defeat

The Whites Under-18s head coach saw his side exit the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night
Leeds United's players thank the travelling support at Old Trafford following full-time. (Getty)Leeds United's players thank the travelling support at Old Trafford following full-time. (Getty)
Leeds United's players thank the travelling support at Old Trafford following full-time. (Getty)

Mark Jackson was left "proud of everyone" after his Leeds United Under-18s outfit were sent out of the FA Youth Cup at the hands of Manchester United.

The Whites were backed by an incredible 1,500 travelling supporters at Old Trafford for the fifth round tie on Wednesday evening.

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A solitary strike from Dillon Hoogewerf in the second half for the hosts coupled with a Henri Kumwenda red card was enough to see the Red Devils progress into the quarter finals of the famous competition.

Jackson, though, had no complaints at the full-time whistle believing his players and staff had left everything out on the pitch against their arch rivals.

"I'm so proud of everyone," he told the YEP.

"When they put a performance in like that, and that goes for the rest of the coaching staff as well. I can't be anything but proud of the performance.

"I think the appreciation from the fans to the players and them back the other way at the end just typifies what this football club is all about.

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"It's about that graft, desire and mental attitude. We were against the odds down to 10 men and we were still fighting on. We played some good football at times and we took the game right to Manchester United.

"It was a fantastic occasion for both teams. Playing here at Old Trafford with that amount of Leeds fans was fantastic. The occasion was perfect and the performance was nearly perfect.

"We had to work in a short space of time and I thought the boys implemented what we tried to work on really well.

"I said to them in the changing room that sometimes in football you can leave everything on the pitch and you don't always get the rewards of what you deserve.

"Their efforts tonight, and in particular after going down to 10 men, they deserve a huge amount of credit.

"It just goes to show that the future of the football club is very promising."