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U23 REPORT: EAGLES SINK LEEDS
Second half strike defeats Whites.
Professional Development League
Leeds United 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Coker 75)
Jason Blunt’s Under-23s suffered defeat at Thorp Arch, as Andre Coker’s strike 15 minutes from time was enough to seal the points for the Eagles.
The Whites got off to a good start, Clarke Oduor won Leeds a free-kick in a dangerous central area and the ball was teed up for Eoghan Stokes to strike and his effort went just inches wide.
Leeds were then dealt with an injury blow as the influential Stokes had to be withdrawn inside 20 minutes, with a suspected hamstring injury.
United again went close from another set-piece, Alex Purver won Leeds a free-kick to the right of the Crystal Palace box and Tom Pearce struck just off target.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell was called into action for the first time in the 33rd minute, big Palace defender Oliver O’Dwyer did well to get his head on a corner, forcing the United keeper into a good save.
Palace then had another opportunity from a corner, O’Dwyer this time provided a flick on, but Coker could only head over the bar.
Levi Lukeman then went through on goal for the visitors, but Peacock-Farrell made a superb save to keep the scores level.
Half Time: Leeds United 0-0 Crystal Palace
The second half proved to be a real midfield battle, but an already long injury list for United got even longer in the second half, with Paul McKay having to be withdrawn before the hour mark.
Leeds again had Peacock-Farrell to thank for keeping the scores goal-less, Jason Eyenga-Lokilo tested the United stopper from long range, bringing out another great save.
Despite Peacock-Farrell’s goalkeeping heroics, he was unable to prevent Palace from taking the lead. Leeds failed to clear on the left wing following a Palace corner, and the ball fell kindly to Coker who volleyed home via the crossbar.
Three minutes after the goal, Palace had the chance to seal it, Kian Flanaga whipped in a free-kick, but Peacock-Farrell kept Leeds in it, denying O’Dwyer from point blank range.
Leeds applied a lot of pressure late on, throwing the goalkeeper forward after winning a late corner, but the Eagles held on for victory.
Under-23s team v Crystal Palace: Peacock-Farrell, M. Taylor, Pearce, Purver, Vann, P. McKay (Haidara 58), Whitehouse, Nicell, Knight (Wollerton 75), Stokes (Amissah 20), Oduor. Subs not used: O’Connor, Huffer.
Venue: Thorp Arch