Leeds United Under-23s held by Wolves as Mark Jackson takes charge for the first time

The Whites development side were back in action on Friday.
Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt scored his first goal for the club on Friday. (Picture: Leeds United)Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt scored his first goal for the club on Friday. (Picture: Leeds United)
Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt scored his first goal for the club on Friday. (Picture: Leeds United)

Leeds United's Under-23s were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolves on Friday afternoon at Thorp Arch as Mark Jackson took charge for the first time.

The Whites returned to Premier League 2 action after an opening day defeat to Stoke City on Monday night.

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Jackson made two changes from the clash with the Potters as goalkeeper Dani Van den Heuvel made his first start for the club following his summer arrival from Ajax.

Oliver Casey also began the game in defence following his League Cup action at senior level against Hull City in midweek.

United started the better of the two sides as Joe Gelhardt and Niall Huggins caused Wolves problems in the early exchanges.

The former was the man to break the deadlock on 17 minutes as the Wigan academy graduate scored his first goal for Leeds with a clever strike.

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Gelhardt - who had impressed at Stoke - burst into the box and cut back onto his left foot before firing a smart finish into the bottom corner.

Wolves mustered a response through Christian Marques and Austin Samuels with the pair both going close.

It was Jackson's side, though, who added to the scoreline in first half stoppage time.

Huggins collected the ball on the left with a brilliant touch before finding Sam Greenwood at the back post with a low ball.

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The former Arsenal man prodded a strike goalwards from a tight angle with the linesman deeming his effort to have crossed the line.

The goal gave United breathing space but it wasn't to last long as the visitors pulled one back just three minutes into the second half.

Theo Corbeanu provided a calm and collected finish from inside the box with Leeds struggling to assert the same dominance they had shown before the interval.

The visitors then completed a swift comeback as Jack Jenkins was made to pay for being caught on the ball in his own half.

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Luke Cundle gathered for Wolves and fired a sublime shot into the top corner of the net to restore parity.

Leeds weathered the storm and almost won it late through Huggins who missed from inside the six-yard box.

Gelhardt also tested visiting stopped Andreas Sondergaard as he beat away an effort in added time to ensure a share of the spoils.

Leeds U23s: Van den Heuvel, Drameh, Huggins, McCalmont, Hosannah, Casey (Cresswell 45), Stevens (McMillan 68), Jenkins, Greenwood, Gelhardt, McKinstry (Gotts 45). Subs not used: Caprile, Galloway.

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