BURNLEY Under 23’s fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against a strong Leeds United side at Elland Road, writes Josh Bunting.

Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa was in attendance to watch Kemar Roofe, Lewis Baker, Gaetano Berardi and Adam Forshaw against the young Clarets.

In what was a quiet opening it was Leeds who created the first chance as Berardi fired an effort from range over the crossbar on 18 minutes.

The home side who created another fine opportunity minutes later as Baker fizzed in a cross into Roofe but he flicked his header wide of the target.

In a half of Leeds United domination they went inches away from taking the lead on 22 minutes when Forshaw curled an effort wide after good up link up play with Berardi.

The Clarets created their first real chance of the game when Ali Koki played a long ball into Tinashe Chakwana but he was beaten to the ball by Whites keeper Jamal Blackman on 27 minutes.

However a minute later the home side took the lead when Berardi met a Baker corner, his header taking a deflection of a Clarets defender on the way into the net.

The trio of Baker, Roofe and Beradi were proving to be too much for the young Clarets and they nearly had their second on 32 minutes as a low Roofe cut-back was nearly turned into his own net by Anthony Glennon.

It was wave after wave of Leeds attacks and Adam Bruce in the Burnley goal came to his side's rescue on 41 minutes as he made a superb reaction save with his legs when Beradi crossed for Baker before his effort from point blank range was well kept out.

Jon Pepper’s side created their best chance of the half on the stroke of the break when Daniel Agyei beat Hugo Diaz before firing his effort just wide of the target.

Bruce was called into action early in the second half when some neat play from the Whites resulted in Baker having a strike from distance that was well saved down low to the keepers left.

Burnley were then denied an equaliser on 55 minutes thanks to an outstanding save from Blackman as Tunde Bayode played in Chakwana, but his strike from close range was well tipped over by the home keeper.

However Leeds doubled their advantage on 57 minutes as Jamie Shackleton picked out Roofe unmarked in the area before he fired a powerful shot low into the net beyond the outstretched Bruce.

Pepper made his first change on 60 minutes bringing off Agyei and replacing him with midfielder Josh Benson, who was returning from a lengthy injury.

The Clarets got themselves back into the game on 66 minutes as Mace Goodridge picked out Dwight McNeil, who spent some time training with the England Under 20 squad this week, before he drove forward and lashed his strike beyond the reach of Blackman.

From the restart Leeds could have immediately regained their two goal advantage as Roofe cut through the Burnley defence before squaring the ball to Sam Dalby but his effort was superbly blocked by the feet of the impressive Bruce.

However Burnley showed immense character to equalise on 72 minutes as the Clarets broke free with McNeil before he was well tackled by Shackleton. From the resulting corner Benson’s set-piece was met perfectly by Oliver Younger and he thumped a header into the net out of Blackman’s reach.

Leeds thought they had restored their lead on 83 minutes as Robbie Gotts was played in by Baker but his effort hit the side-netting and bounced behind.

It was the home side who had the final chance of the game as Jack Clarke, who made his first team debut against Brentford last Saturday, was played in but he fired his effort over the crossbar from close range.

Leeds United: Blackman, Shackleton, Diaz, Struijk, Davis (Nicell 62), Beradi, Roofe (Stevens 70), Forshaw, Dalby (Gotts 86), Baker, Clarke

Subs not used: Miazek, McCalmont

Burnley: Bruce, Cropper, Younger, Glennon, Koiki, Bayode, Goodridge, McNeil, Agyei (Benson 60), Chakwana (Harker 78)

Subs not used: McMahon,Cooke,Blair