Chelsea Under-21s came away with all three points and returned to winning ways with a good victory away from home.

We controlled most of the first half, taking advantage of the home side's high line, but in the end we were made to work hard for the victory with some strong defending late on.

Deivid Washington gave us the lead, as his good movement in the box allowed him to finish from Tyrique George’s cross.

He doubled our lead as he was again in the right place to receive a pass, this time from Leo Castledine, and like his first goal he finished well.

There were further chances for us from Alfie Gilchrist and George, but it was Leeds who scored the next goal of the game when Sean McGurk curled past Eddie Beach.

Both sides had chances to affect the scoreline, but neither converted. So the game would end 2-1 in our favour, as our young Blues saw out the remainder of the game to hang on to the three points.

Mark Robinson’s assistants, Jack Mesure and James Simmonds, took charge from the sidelines, with Mark Robinson still absent due to illness. Both sides came into the game having accumulated six points each from wins over Luton Town and Colchester United.

It was a cold afternoon in York and the Blues started the game well, probing the edge of the Leeds penalty area.

Taking control

We almost found the breakthrough when a well-timed run saw Castledine charge towards goal, but as he looked to pass to an unmarked Ronnie Stutter, Leeds defender Jeremiah Mullen put in a last-ditch tackle to divert the ball away.

George was next to go close, as he jinked his way into the box and unleashed a shot from an angle which was heading goalwards, but in the end it was deflected wide.

We made the most of our fast start and nine minutes in a fine team move, which started with Dylan Williams and Castledine, saw George play a great cross into the box and Washington was the quickest to react at the back post, diverting the ball into the net.

We were threatening from corners and Gilchrist’s header from a Tauriainen cross only just went over the bar.

Doubling our advantage

Leeds were beginning to find their feet in the game without anything meaningful being fashioned and, just as they began to build confidence, we struck a second.

In transition, Samuel Rak-Sakyi played a fine through-ball over the top for Castledine, who did well to hold off his man and play in Washington. The Brazilian striker composed himself and finished from close range.

Stutter did well to beat the home side's high line and round the keeper, but Leeds defender James Debayo sensed the danger and cleared off the line.

A poor moment just before half-time saw us lose possession and McGurk should have scored, but a combination of Gilchrist and Beach prevented a goal. The home side began the second period the better of the two sides and went close through Charlie Allen, who cut in onto his right foot and only just missed the target.

We were looking to reinforce our advantage and had a good chance as Washington and Stutter combined, but the latter’s shot failed to test the goalkeeper.

Withstanding pressure

Second-half substitute Joe Snowdon went close with an effort just inside the box which whistled past the crossbar. The pressure from Leeds continued and they halved the deficit through McGurk, who dribbled into the box and curled a well-placed shot beyond Beach.

We should have put the game beyond doubt when Williams found Jimmy-Jay Morgan in the box, but his shot was saved well by the right boot of Harry Christy in the Leeds net.

We were made to work hard for the victory in the end, but our boys did enough to secure the three points and take charge of Group D. The win means Chelsea are the only side in Group D with a 100 per cent record, going three points ahead of Leeds with qualification to the next round now looking almost certain.

What next?

Our Under-21s have a long lay-off with no competitive fixtures for the next two weeks. They return on Sunday 3 December with a 1pm kick-off, away from home against Middlesbrough.

Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Eddie Beach; Kaiden Wilson, Alfie Gilchrist (c), Dylan Williams; Tyrique George, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Jimi Tauriainen (Billy Gee 46), Somto Boniface (Zain Silcott-Duberry 67); Leo Castledine; Deivid Washington (Jimmy Jay-Morgan 81), Ronnie Stutter
Unused subs: Max Merrick, Travis Akomeah
Scorer: Washington 9, 27
Booked: Wilson 22, Washington 37, Silcott-Duberry 90+1, Morgan 90+2, Castledine 90+5

Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Harry Christy; Kris Moore (c) (Harvey Sutcliffe 87), Connor Ferguson, James Debayo, Jeremiah Mullen; Charlie Crew, Keenan Carole (Joe Snowdon 46), Darko Gyabi; Mateo Joseph (Luca Thomas 87), Sean McGurk, Charlie Allen
Unused subs: Owen Grainger, Diogo Monteiro
Scorer: McGurk 75
Booked: McGurk 28, Crew 53, Debayo 63