Barnsley FC v Leeds United U21s player ratings: Quartet of 4/10s for Reds & trio of 9/10s for Whites in EFL Trophy
Barnsley and Leeds United Under-21s’ players rated following their EFL Trophy clash
Barnsley’s EFL Trophy campaign got off to a poor start as they were beaten 4-3 by Leeds United Under-21s.
Reds boss Daniel Stendel named a starting XI sprinkled with seniority, yet Leeds’ youngsters looked considerably more mature under the Oakwell lights.
They took advantage of abject defending to head into the half-time break with a three-goal lead, as Josh McDonald got in on the act after a Callum Mills brace. Mills, who featured at senior level in pre-season, heaped misery on the hosts by completing his hat-trick in the second half.
Jack Shepherd registered Barnsley’s first of the evening with a tidy finish, although it could only prompt sarcastic celebrations from those in attendance. There was a slightly more enthusiastic response when Amani Richards added a second, and a genuine outbreak of hope when Luca Connell rifled home a third, but the latter proved to be the final goal of the evening.
Barnsley
Kieran Flavell - Badly deceived for the first goal and never really recovered. 4
Noah Saunders - Looked uncomfortable from the get-go. Made way at the interval. 5
Jubril Okedina - Perhaps the best of a bad bunch at the back, although that is admittedly not much of a compliment. Made an excellent goalline block in the first half, a fleeting highlight. 5
Jack Shepherd - You would have expected his experience to shine through, but the centre-back was guilty of some naive defending. Managed to get on the scoresheet with a tidy finish. 5
Robson Woodcock - Switched off on far too many occasions, giving Harvey Vincent the freedom of the right flank. 4
Jonathan Bland - He has previously equipped himself well at senior level but looked lost against a team of youngsters. 4
Luca Connell - Could not impose himself on a game he had more than enough experience and quality to run. Scored a stunner in the second half. 5
Clayton Taylor - Like Connell, he should have had considerably more influence on the game given his calibre. 5
Luke Alker - Did not make much of a claim for more minutes at senior level with a poor showing. Substituted at the halfway point. 5
Leo Farrell - Ran down blind alleys all evening and struggled to make a mark. Came off at half-time. 5
Ben Hamed Toure - Clumsy on the ball and did not offer enough off it. Replaced at the break. 4
Substitutes
Noah Town - Put himself about but had had a minimal impact from the bench. 6
Rylan Brownlie - See above. Went close early in the second half with a header. 6
Amani Richards - Gave Barnsley’s attack some much-needed vibrancy from the bench. Posed a threat with his direct nature and trickery and took his goal well. 8
Vimal Yoganathan - Gave the Reds a bit of quality in midfield and was unlucky to find the woodwork after a deft spin inside the box. Scored Barnsley’s first of the evening. 7
Kieran Graham - Worked hard but did not pose much of a threat. 6
Leeds United U21
Rory Mahady - Made some superb saves and commanded his area incredibly well for the majority, but could not stop Barnsley battling back with three goals. 7
Freddie Lane - Used his physicality well and drifted into awkward areas. 7
Roman Egan-Riley - Won his duels and did not look flustered against a smattering of senior League One players. 8
Louis Enahoro-Marcus - Did not look fazed for the bulk of the game, although the defence weakned in the latter stages. 7
Louie Philpott - Looked assured against one of Barnsley’s high-profile summer signings in Clayton Taylor, but had a tougher time against Amani Richards. 6
Alfie Cresswell - It was easy to see why Daniel Farke has taken a shining to him. Looked a cut above. 9
Oliver Pickes - Used the ball tidily and helped Leeds keep a lid on two senior Barnsley midfielders for large spells. 8
Harvey Vincent - A real menace down the right. Picked up two assists with some pinpoint crosses and looked threatening nearly every time he got on the ball. 9
Rhys Chadwick - Like Cresswell, Chadwick has had first-team exposure and it is not difficult to see why. Has a great eye for a killer pass and his movement was fantastic. 8
Josh McDonald - Grabbed himself a goal and an assist. Lively throughout. 8
Callum Mills - The teenager caught the eye during Leeds’ pre-season tour of the USA and did so again at Oakwell. Played as a makeshift forward and bagged a stylish hat-trick. 9
Substitutes
Luke Matykiewicz - N/A
Ditmir Hodja - N/A
Liam Balmer - N/A
Jacob Render - N/A