Leeds United Under-23s move step closer to Premier League 2 promotion after Newcastle United victory
Leeds United's Under-23s moved a step closer to promotion with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Monday.
Mark Jackson selected a strong line-up for the Premier League 2 Division Two clash with the Magpies at Thorp Arch.
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Hide AdSenior defender Robin Koch played his first competitive minutes since December while Gaetano Berardi and Ian Poveda started alongside the club's development regulars.
After a fairly even start it was Leeds who broke the deadlock following some good individual play from forward Joe Gelhardt.
The former Wigan youngster broke free of his man and produced a driving run to the byline before being taken out by a clumsy challenge inside the visitors box.
Gelhardt - who has impressed since his summer arrival to West Yorkshire from the Latics - stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and score his eighth goal in just 14 league appearances.
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Hide AdNewcastle responded with pressure of their own but it was again the Whites who added to the scoreline through Under-23s captain Charlie Cresswell.
The centre-back leapt highest from a Poveda corner to power home an inch-perfect header into the top of the net with a defender stood on the line.
The Magpies, though, had the final say in the opening period as they struck two minutes before the break from close-range through winger Christian Atsu.
Leeds were forced to defend after the interval and Elia Caprile pulled off three impressive saves to keep his side in front - two of which were from Newcastle's breakthrough star Elliot Anderson.
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Hide AdGelhardt again went close as did Sam Greenwood and Liam McCarron but Jackson's side had to settle for a narrow victory at the club's training ground.
The win means United now require just two victories to earn promotion to the Premier League 2 top division with four games of the season remaining.
Leeds United Under-23s: Caprile, Drameh, Huggins, Koch (Shackleton 45), Cresswell, Berardi (Casey 45), Poveda (McKinstry 45), Jenkins, Gelhardt, Greenwood, McCarron. Subs not used: Christy, Kenneh.