LEEDS UNITED had to change their starting XI for the first time in six matches at Sunderland on Sunday, and goalkeeper James Trafford was impressed by how seamlessly the stand-ins adapted.

Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson were fairly anonymous in the inside-forward positions after injuries left Anton Stach and Noah Okafor unable to play more than cameos.

But Sean Longstaff came off the bench and had two good chances to score what would have been the only goal of a tight game.

And Jaka Bijol stepped in at short notice when Nico Elvedi was sent home ill having travelled. In his first Premier League start since August, he fitted well into the middle of a back three which helped Leeds keep a fifth clean sheet of the season.

"The lads that came in were brilliant," said Trafford. "Jaka was brilliant, Harry and Brenden were brilliant. Even Noah and Anton, when they came on, were brilliant.

"There were two great strikes from (Longstaff) and another day they go in.

"He was really good when he came on and it's the strength of the squad that when we bring players on we improve.

"We're very strong defensively and it's not just the back five or the two in front, it's everyone as a collective.

COVERED: James Trafford (centre) with back-up Leeds United goalkeepers Michael Zetterer and Alex Cairns (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

placeholder image — COVERED: James Trafford (centre) with back-up Leeds United goalkeepers Michael Zetterer and Alex Cairns (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"Jaka has started the first two Prem games and he hasn't started since, but he's trained amazingly. So when he performs like that, it's not a surprise."

Leeds have drawn three of their last four games, and lost at Arsenal.

So a 0-0 draw at Sunderland frustrated Trafford.

"I'm quite disappointed," admitted the England international. "We wanted the win. We believed we should have and could have won.

SHORT NOTICE: Jaka Bijol stepped into the Leeds United back three on Sunday (Image: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)

"Every day we're trying to improve to win these types of games. It was a tough game, but we felt we did enough to win.

"It shows how far the club's progressed given the second season (back in the Premier League) and we're away from home and believe we could have won.

"If you can turn them (draws) into wins you're in a great position and it's something we're trying to do. Every game we go in to try and win regardless of who we're playing."

Leeds are at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.