Tuesday night check. Away from home check. Yorkshire derby check. All the signs pointed towards Leeds struggling against a Doncaster side which have made a reasonable start to the season. However, the opposite was to be the case as Leeds ran out 3-1 winners in a fairly comfortable display.
Leeds were forced to do some early defending when Scott Wootton, making his début at the heart of the defence cleared off the line and Wellens also went close for the hosts.
However, Leeds found their spark in the form of academy débutante Alex Mowatt, who broke well from midfield before laying off Ross McCormack who lashed his shot wildly into the stands. McCormack again had a chance to give Leeds the lead after Ross Turnbull's punch fell at the feet of the Scottish international, but McCormack again found the stands rather than the net.
Domic Poleon would have the next chance for Leeds as he left Reece Wabara in a heap before sending a weak shot towards Turnbull, with the former Chelsea keeper looking increasingly nervous. The goal eventually came courtesy of three new players, Alex Mowatt providing a delicious cross, Matt Smith directing it back across goal to the well placed Wootton who finished well.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first finished with Poleon working some space before firing into the side netting and Matt Smith also caused pressure as he volleyed narrowly wide of the target.
Cue the arrival of Barndoor Billy, so often a butt of our jokes, he came up with the perfect remedy by scoring with his first touch.The Leeds defence had allowed him far too much space and his well controlled header eluded Paddy Kenny to level the tie at one all. This provided the impetus for Doncaster to come back into the game and they created a number of chances, with half time substitute Mark Duffy finding too much space in front of the back line.
Brian McDermott made the change which swung the match in Leeds' favour, Luke Murphy replacing Mowatt, who was greeted with a standing ovation from the travelling hordes. Leeds regained the lead when Lee Peltier, surprised us all by advancing over the halfway line and providing a cross for Matt Smith to score his first goal for the club, amid suspicions of foul play.
Leeds sealed the tie when Dom Poleon, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Doncaster defence, again got the better of Reece Wabara who then brought him down inside the area. A number of people wanted to take the penalty, but it was Ross McCormack who stepped up and sent Ross Turnbull the wrong way; cue the obligatory chants of 'Ross McCormack is not for sale'.
The match fizzled out with Leeds keeping possession well and seeing the game through, McCormack, Poleon and Austin all had chances to increase the lead, but it finished 3-1.
The performance was a good one, especially considering that we were at half-strength against Doncaster's first team, making a marked change from the jittery performance against Chesterfield. Scott Wootton was impressive at the back and will certainly have put himself in contention for Saturday with that performance, alongside him, Jason Pearce again did well and he is beginning to show us why Neil Warnock shelled out £500,000 for him. In the middle, Mowatt played well and looked like an established first teamer, with Brian McDermott stressing that he could expect to be involved in first team duties for the coming season. Up front, Smith and McCormack both did well with both getting on the scoresheet, something which I feel will be a big confidence boost to Smith. However, my man of the match award could've gone to one of many, but I've opted for Dom Poleon. His pace caused Donny all kinds of problems at the back and he drew the foul for McCormack's penalty and with himself, Killock, Lenighan, Mowatt and Dawson all being used in the first team again, the academy is anything but the 'cancer at the heart of the club'
Leeds were forced to do some early defending when Scott Wootton, making his début at the heart of the defence cleared off the line and Wellens also went close for the hosts.
However, Leeds found their spark in the form of academy débutante Alex Mowatt, who broke well from midfield before laying off Ross McCormack who lashed his shot wildly into the stands. McCormack again had a chance to give Leeds the lead after Ross Turnbull's punch fell at the feet of the Scottish international, but McCormack again found the stands rather than the net.
Domic Poleon would have the next chance for Leeds as he left Reece Wabara in a heap before sending a weak shot towards Turnbull, with the former Chelsea keeper looking increasingly nervous. The goal eventually came courtesy of three new players, Alex Mowatt providing a delicious cross, Matt Smith directing it back across goal to the well placed Wootton who finished well.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first finished with Poleon working some space before firing into the side netting and Matt Smith also caused pressure as he volleyed narrowly wide of the target.
Cue the arrival of Barndoor Billy, so often a butt of our jokes, he came up with the perfect remedy by scoring with his first touch.The Leeds defence had allowed him far too much space and his well controlled header eluded Paddy Kenny to level the tie at one all. This provided the impetus for Doncaster to come back into the game and they created a number of chances, with half time substitute Mark Duffy finding too much space in front of the back line.
Brian McDermott made the change which swung the match in Leeds' favour, Luke Murphy replacing Mowatt, who was greeted with a standing ovation from the travelling hordes. Leeds regained the lead when Lee Peltier, surprised us all by advancing over the halfway line and providing a cross for Matt Smith to score his first goal for the club, amid suspicions of foul play.
Leeds sealed the tie when Dom Poleon, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Doncaster defence, again got the better of Reece Wabara who then brought him down inside the area. A number of people wanted to take the penalty, but it was Ross McCormack who stepped up and sent Ross Turnbull the wrong way; cue the obligatory chants of 'Ross McCormack is not for sale'.
The match fizzled out with Leeds keeping possession well and seeing the game through, McCormack, Poleon and Austin all had chances to increase the lead, but it finished 3-1.
The performance was a good one, especially considering that we were at half-strength against Doncaster's first team, making a marked change from the jittery performance against Chesterfield. Scott Wootton was impressive at the back and will certainly have put himself in contention for Saturday with that performance, alongside him, Jason Pearce again did well and he is beginning to show us why Neil Warnock shelled out £500,000 for him. In the middle, Mowatt played well and looked like an established first teamer, with Brian McDermott stressing that he could expect to be involved in first team duties for the coming season. Up front, Smith and McCormack both did well with both getting on the scoresheet, something which I feel will be a big confidence boost to Smith. However, my man of the match award could've gone to one of many, but I've opted for Dom Poleon. His pace caused Donny all kinds of problems at the back and he drew the foul for McCormack's penalty and with himself, Killock, Lenighan, Mowatt and Dawson all being used in the first team again, the academy is anything but the 'cancer at the heart of the club'