Exciting Leeds United summer transfer scores first goal but Under-21s cup campaign ends in defeat

Highly-rated Leeds United summer signing Ditmir Hodja scored his first goal for the club during Tuesday’s 3-1 National League Cup defeat to Hartlepool United.

The young Whites were unable to end their campaign against senior opposition on a high at Victoria Park as two goals from Terry Bondo - one a penalty - either side of a Chris Popov strike handed them a third defeat in four. Hartlepool were 2-0 up inside 28 minutes with Leeds punished for some loose play.

Gardner’s side were spirited in their attempts to fight back either side of half-time but conceded a third on 70 minutes, Bondo grabbing his second of the game. Hodja was introduced as a substitute shortly after and didn’t need long to open his account for his new club.

The North Macedonia youth international, who signed a three-year deal in August after leaving FK Rabotnicki, reacted quickly to an opportunity in the penalty area to lash home and open his Whites account. It proved little more than a consolation on the night however with Leeds ending their National League Cup campaign at the group stage.

“We are really disappointed with the first part of the first half, where we conceded two goals, and then we seemed to get into gear a little bit and start to show what we were about,” boss Gardner said. “Just after they scored the second goal, we could quite easily crumble and it maybe looked like it could go that way.

“So, credit to them that they recovered to a certain degree, and probably for the next hour they controlled most of the game. But at the senior level, the game is done. They know the game is done and, yeah, we are just disappointed that we haven’t got more to show, particularly for the second half.

“I think the effort is there. I know how hard they work. It is just that intent to want to win. Even tonight, look at the goals we concede. They are just key moments where an older player doesn’t make those kind of actions to defend the box.

“It is stuff that we work on, something that we highlight, which is why this competition is so important because you need to feel it. That is the difference between winning and losing the game.

“It is key little bits and key little areas that, if you are really desperate to win the game or desperate not to lose, makes the difference. It gives them an idea of what they are going to be exposed to going into the men’s game.

“You play for three points. They are going to put the ball into the box. They are going to be physical. How do you deal with that as a young professional? It is a fantastic experience for us to have.”