The report

Both sides were already assured places in the knockout stage heading into Friday evening's game. Yet Chelsea against Leeds United – given the fixture's history – can never be classed as a dead rubber at any age group.

It was the Blues who made the breakthrough at Kingsmeadow inside 15 minutes. Leo Castledine did excellently to win back possession in the Leeds penalty area and his pass was calmly finished by Zain Silcott-Duberry.

The lead was short-lived, however. This time the Blues lost possession inside our own half and Leeds constructed an attack that ended with Charlie Allen firing beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Luke Campbell.

Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the first half. Yet in the fifth minute of additional time, Chelsea's lead was re-established as Jimmy-Jay Morgan claimed possession from a throw-in and found the bottom corner from just outside the box.

The challenge for Robinson's side was to build on their lead after the interval. Unfortunately, it was Leeds who started the second period the brighter of the two sides and they levelled when Marley Wilson drilled home a shot from distance after a short corner.

Leeds came close to grabbing a third soon after as a corner was met inside the six-yard box by Sonny Perkins. His effort, however, was straight at Campbell who was able to grab hold of the ball.

From the next passage of play, Chelsea retook the lead. Possession was worked down the Chelsea right and Jimi Tauriainen delivered a deep cross for Morgan, who experly volleyed home.

Castledine came close to adding a fourth for Chelsea but was denied. Morgan then missed a difficult opportunity to complete his hat-trick as he guided a header over the crossbar.

Those misses proved costly for Chelsea as, with 12 minutes to play, Leeds equalised once again. Max McFadden broke down the Blues' left and crossed to Luca Thomas, who headed home to ensure the game ended level.

The reaction

‘There were elements of the performance we were pleased with,' Robinson reflected. 'We felt we carried a real threat and there were things we’ve worked on in training that the boys carried out.

'We created a lot of good situations and a fair number of chances – and we were pleased with that side of things. But on the other side, there seemed to be lulls after every goal we scored and that allowed them back in the game.

'I can only remember them having four chances but they scored three goals, and there is no doubt at the moment that conceding from few chances is our Achilles heel.

'We've looked back at the goals and tactically there isn't a lot wrong, although there are always little things you could do better. So we feel it's a social and psychological aspect we have to work on.

'We've spoken to the boys about it and they agreed it's a mindset shift rather than ability or tactics. So we're working with the boys to try to make sure when we take the lead – which we do more often than not – we don’t have the lulls. That is key.’

Morgan made it five goals in two matches with his double against Leeds and Robinson highlighted the improvements made by the 18-year-old in recent weeks.

'We’re pleased with his progression this season,' said the Under-21s head coach. 'He is a shining example that if approach training in the right way, you get your rewards. The pleasing thing is we know there is more to come.

'He is an under-18 player who has been playing Under-21s football for a large part of this season. Still, the goals have come, I think he's on 15 now, and that is promising.'

The teams

Chelsea: Campbell; Hughes, Gee (Wilson 63), Samuels-Smith; Olise (Dyer 49), Rak-Sakyi, Tauriainen (Stutter 65), Sturge (Williams 65); Silcott-Duberry, Morgan, Castledine
Subs: Austin.
Goalscorers: Silcott-Duberry 14, Morgan 45+5, 60
Booked: Williams 74, Morgan 77

Leeds United: Ombang; Sutcliffe, Toulson, Crew, Moore (Monteiro HT), Debayo, Allen (Wilson HT), Coleman, Perkins, McFadden, Thomas.
Subs: Mahady (GK), Chadwick, Cline.
Goalscorers: Allen 23, Wilson 54, Thomas 78
Booked: Moore 12,Coleman 51, Wilson 51, Perkins 89