Leeds United’s U21s side fell to a 3-0 defeat in their second Papa John’s Trophy fixture on Tuesday night.
Michael Skubala’s side travelled to the University of Bolton Stadium unbeaten so far this season having won their opening Northern Section Group B fixture 5-3 at Tranmere Rovers.
However, the step up to face a League One side proved too much for the youngsters who remain second in their quartet behind their hosts on the night Bolton.
Wanderers enjoyed the brunt of the possession while Mateo Joseph and company struggled to get into the game.
Yorkshire Evening Post writer Joe Donnohue provided match ratings on the night for each of the Whites’ players and gave Joseph a 6/10 for his performance whilst making the following comment on Twitter:
‘Cut a frustrated figure, Joseph was marshalled for the majority of the game after starting brightly.’
TIF Thoughts on Joseph and Leeds…
The 18-year-old has been in flying form in the early stages of the campaign scoring eight times in seven Premier League 2 appearances which has left Skubala’s side top of Group 2 at that level.
However, after ‘leading by example in the previous tie the Spaniard will undoubtedly have felt ‘frustrated’ at the top end of the pitch.
He had just 27 touches according to SofaScore and managed just one shot which was off-target.
He did, however, play three key passes and created one big chance but it was closer to goal were Skubala needed him and that proved difficult up against three Bolton centre-halves.