Leeds United Under-23s claimed their first win of their Premier League 2 season with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Academy of Light on Monday afternoon.

A hat-trick from summer recruit Sam Greenwood, an ex-Sunderland forward, helped Mark Jackson's side secure victory over the Black Cats.

  • Story of the game

The first chance of the game fell the way of Leeds, Leif Davis broke forward down the left and his deflected cross found Stuart McKinstry whose effort goes just wide.

Just sixty seconds later Leeds took the lead, Joe Gelhardt played a lovely through ball into the path of Greenwood who cooly converted the chance.

The visitors could have had a second two minutes later, Cody Drameh drove forward and teed up McKinstry, who couldn't keep his effort from sailing over the bar.

Leeds went close again, Gelhardt saw his effort blocked following some good work from Davis, before Jamie Shackleton was denied from the edge of the area by a good stop from Anthony Patterson.

Leeds continued to look for the second, Polish Under-21 international Mateusz Bogusz, sent Gelhardt forward, he weaved his way into the area, before firing his effort into the side netting.

The visitors then broke on the counterattack and Greenwood forced Patterson into a smart stop from a narrow angle.

The hosts thought they had a way back into the game when, Arbenit Xhemajli sent his header across the face of goal, Sam Wilding directed his header on target, but for a magnificent save by Elia Caprile to keep him out.

The visitors had the first chance in the second half, Gelhardt provided a chance for substitute Robbie Gotts, but he was denied from close range.

After seeing his free-kick blocked by the wall, Gelhardt won Leeds another free-kick, in a scoring position, which Greenwood didn't fail to deliver.

The former Sunderland academy striker stepped up and superbly converted the set-piece to double Leeds' advantage, however, he didn't stop there when he claimed his hat-trick four minutes later.

McKinstry played in Greenwood who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to ensure Leeds were in real control of the game.

Leeds could have really put the game to bed with fifteen minutes to go, Gotts saw his effort from distance go wide of the target.

The hosts hadn't given up hope and still looked to get onto the scoresheet, Josh Hawkes took aim from around 25 yards, which forced Caprile into another good stop.

Will Harris then went close following a corner, his effort came back off the post, before Leeds managed to clear the danger, however, with six minutes to go Leeds could have had their fourth of the afternoon. 

A corner from the right came in and Casey saw his header come back off the bar and go behind.

Unfortunately it wasn't a perfect afternoon for the Whites as Drameh, already on a booking from the first half after a foul, reacted badly to a challenge on him by Ciaran Dunne, which saw him collect a second booking and sent off - somewhat tarnishing a fantastic trip up to the north east.

With the last action of the game, Sunderland were awarded a penalty when Jake Diamond was brought down in the area, he dusted himself down and sent Caprile the wrong way to score a consolation goal for Sunderland.

  • Player of the Match

Greenwood the star of the show with an impressive hat-trick

Sam Greenwood was the best player on the pitch and that showed with an impressive hat-trick but that wasn't the only reason he caught the eye this afternoon, his ruthlessness in the attacking third was another factor to why he played very well today.

His impressive work off the ball to close down the defenders and help create space for his team-mates to work in and his very good understand partnership with Joffy (Joe Gelhardt) hasn't gone unnoticed.

  • Takeaways

Jackson will be pleased with the work rate of his side

Newly appointed Under-23s boss Mark Jackson will be pleased with the work rate his side showed. Players like Greenwood, Gelhardt, and McKinstry were all doing pulling their weight by closing down the Sunderland defence on all opportunities they got - the attitude the youngsters have was a credit to the way Jackson wanted to play.

It had been ten days since Leeds' last game against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under 23s, and it gave Mark Jackson just enough time to get his methods across to the players. 

The extra time on the training field certainly reaped its rewards this afternoon.

  • Teams

Sunderland: Patterson, Wilding, Dunne, Hackett, Taylor, Xhemajli, Diamond, Dobson, Curry, Neil, Wearne.

Subs: Wombwell, Bond, Harris, Beaumont, Hawkes.

Leeds United: Caprile, Drameh, Davis, Casey, Cresswell, Hosannah, Bogusz, Shackleton, Greenwood, Gelhardt, McKinstry.

Subs: Van den Hevuel, Jenkins, Gotts, Struijk, Summerville.