Sam Greenwood bags Leeds United Under-23s hat-trick as Cody Drameh sees red at Sunderland

A Sam Greenwood hat-trick lifted Leeds United's Under-23s side to their first win of the Premier League 2 campaign on Monday afternoon.

Mark Jackson's outfit ran out 3-1 winners over Sunderland at the Academy of Light with Cody Drameh sent off late on for a second yellow card.

The Whites were fresh from a 10-day break following a draw with Wolves having fallen to defeat at Stoke City on the opening day.

Leeds, though, got their season up and running in style as Greenwood claimed the match ball against the side where his career began.

The striker opened the scoring after just six minutes as he tucked away a neat through ball from fellow summer arrival Joe Gelhardt inside the box.

Goalkeeper Elia Caprile was forced into a brilliant save shortly after as the Black Cats attempted to muster a response but the stopper beat away a Sam Wilding effort.

United had to wait until after the hour mark to add to the scoreline as Greenwood stepped up to fire home an emphatic free-kick from 20-yards.

The former Arsenal man then completed his hat-trick a few minutes later as winger Stuart McKinstry gathered a loose ball to find the forward in space before he crashed a shot into the top corner.

Leeds defender Drameh was then handed a second yellow card as time expired after his reaction to a late challenge was deemed a bookable offence.

Sunderland themselves got on the scoresheet in added time from the penalty spot as Jack Diamond sent Caprile the wrong way following a mix-up at the back.

United, though, held on for all three points and claimed their first victory of the campaign under new boss Jackson.

The Whites now face a swift turnaround as they host Middlesbrough at Thorp Arch on Friday afternoon in league action once again.

Leeds will then send an Under-21s side to Barrow in the EFL Trophy on October 6 next week with a number of players from the development squad vying to be involved at Holker Street.

Leeds United U23s XI: Caprile, Drameh, Davis (Struijk 45), Casey, Cresswell, Hosannah, Bogusz (Jenkins 45), Shackleton (Gotts 45), Greenwood, Gelhardt, McKinstry. Subs not used: Van den Heuvel, Summerville.