Friendly Report: Shelbourne 1 - 2 Leeds United

Garry Monk's life as Leeds boss got off to a winning start in Tolka Park after first half goals from Souleymane Doukara and Hadi Sacko saw off Shelbourne despite Adam Evans' second-half strike.

The game started off with a lot of chasing from Shelbourne as the Leeds midfield were knocking it around nicely. Some good work between Kalvin Phillips and a one-two between Lewie Coyle and Hadi Sacko allowed Coyle to get a cross in, but it beat everyone and was cleared by Shelbourne.

Shortly after, Kemar Roofe blocked down a Shelbourne clearance in the box and it fell kindly for Souleymane Doukara. The forward hesitated slightly but still managed beat Jack Brady at his near post with a powerful strike.

Leeds got their second when Kemar Roofe and Alex Mowatt linked up brilliantly. Mowatt slid a pass into Sacko and the winger was able to slot home to score on his debut.

Shelbourne had their first sight at goal when a looping corner found James English but the Shels man was unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line by Kalvin Phillips.

Most of the home side’s chances were coming from set pieces. Another looping corner found Adam O”Connor and his header back towards goal had to be put behind by Doukara.

A quick break for Leeds allowed Mowatt to whip in a ball and Doukara tried an acrobatic attempt but only found fresh air. The ball fell to Luke Murphy but his shot from 25 yards hit his own player, which took the sting out of it completely.

Leeds were keeping the ball well in the middle of the park and it was allowing Lewie Coyle to get forward a lot down the right flank, and on more than one occasion he caused Shelbourne’s defence problems with deliveries into the box.

There was a mistake by Leeds on the edge of their own area which gave James English a great opportunity but Ross Turnbull was out of his goal quickly to smother the chance.

Doukara got on the end of an overhit corner and was able to skip through a few challenges. The ball fell to Roofe but his shot from six yards was quickly blocked for a corner.

Shelbourne got a goal back early on in the second half. There was some quick thinking by Cian Kavanagh as he played a quick free kick about 30 yards out to Lorcan Shannon. The Shels man had a half shot, half cross which was deflected to Adam Evans to bundle across the line.

The Whites responded well and had a couple of opportunities including a good move around the edge of the box which Doukara eventually got a strike away but his curling effort went wide of the post. Doukara went close again when he had a powerful strike straight at Brady, the goalkeeper couldn't only parry it but fortunately it went straight to one of his defenders to clear.

Leeds had a few more failed attempts from Roofe and Mowatt just before the complete reshuffling replacing the eleven on the pitch at the hour mark.

There were some bright bits of play early on from Leeds, in particular from Jordan Botaka, Eoghan Stokes and Marcus Antonsson but it was without any real test to the Shelbourne goal.

It was then in fact the home side that had the first good opportunity since the reshuffle when Lorcan Shannon beat Charlie Taylor down the right and his cross ended up at Gavin Boyne’s feet, his low drive had to be cleared away by Alex Purver.

Botaka had a good opportunity when Antonsson’s heavy touch fell to him in the box. He shifted the ball on to his weaker left foot and struck low but sub keeper Greg Murray got down well to save.

Adam Evans nearly equalised for Shelbourne when he had a strong shot saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Leeds then broke quick and Stokes played a perfectly timed pass to Antonsson, and his cross was then put out for a corner. Sol Bamba latched on to the resulting corner but he couldn't direct his shot on target as it sailed high over the bar.

Botaka created another chance for himself when he dribbled in from the right before unleashing a shot just outside the area. Murray got down well yet again to prevent a Leeds third.

Garry Monk will be happy with the run out his side got tonight and Leeds now play Shamrock Rovers at 3pm in Tallaght on Saturday, the final game of their Irish pre-season tour.

Shelbourne: Jack Brady (Greg Murray 64); James Brown, Adam O’ Connor, Robert O’ Reilly, Dylan Kavanagh; Cian Kavanagh (David Harper 89), Gavin Boyne (Ross Coyle 89), Dylan Grimes (Adam Evans 38), Lorcan Shannon (Glen Carragher 89); James English (Robert Duggan 75), Carl Walshe.

Subs Not Used: Martin Cassin, Reece McTeer, Ryan Robinson.

Booked: None.

Leeds United (First 60 Mins): Ross Turnbull; Lewie Coyle, Toumani Diagouraga, Kyle Bartley, Tyler Denton; Kalvin Phillips, Luke Murphy, Alex Mowatt; Hadi Sacko, Kemar Roofe, Souleymane Doukara.

Leeds United (Last 30 Mins): Bailey Peacock-Farrell; Alex Purver, Sol Bamba, Paul McKay, Charlie Taylor; Jordan Botaka, Ronaldo Viera, Matt Grimes, Eoghan Stokes; Chris Wood, Marcus Antonsson.

Booked: None.

Referee: Paul Tuite.

Attendance: 3,096.

Extratime.ieMan of the Match: Souleymane Doukara (Leeds United).