Sam Greenwood's stunning hat-trick and Jack Diamond impresses again: How Leeds United's win at Sunderland played out

Greenwood, who left the club to join Arsenal in the summer of 2018, produced three superb finishes in a comfortable 3-1 win for Leeds United.

The 18-year-old joined Leeds for a seven-figure fee in the summer and has made a superb start to life at Elland Road.

He forged a wonderful partnership with Joe Gelhardt that Sunderland struggled to contraon, though the lively Jack Diamond scored a deserved late consolation from the spot.

In keeping with their strategy to operate the U23 group as a 'reserve team' this season, Sunderland had once again gone with a strong XI which saw Arbenit Xhemajli and George Dobson play 90 minutes.

Elliot Embleton just missed out as he recovers from a thigh problem, with Parkinson insisting that he needs U23 games before he can be considered for first-team action, having been without regular minutes for a year.

Diamond and Dan Neil were again selected, with Diamond in particular catching Parkinson's eye with an impressive showing against Burnley last week, in which he had won and caught a penalty.

Operating at right wing-back, though, Diamond had an early indication of what lay ahead as Reif Davis surged away from him in the opening minutes of the contest.

A good cutback to the egde of the area found Stuart McKinstry, whose fierce low drive flashed just wide of Anthony Patterson's post.

Sunderland looked vulnerable, with the visiting side impressing with their movement and speed of passing.

It took just five minutes for an expensively-assembled and mightily impressive Leeds frontline to make their mark.

Gelhardt, signed from crisis-club Wigan Athletic in the summer, is expected to shine this season and was a menace throughout the first half with his close control.

He released Greenwood with a wonderful pass from the middle of the pitch, which Greenwood deftly chipped over the onrushing Patterson.

It was one-way traffic and it looked for a while as if Sunderland could buckle.

Leeds again found joy down the flanks, this time down the right, as Drameh surged into space. McKinstry again missed the target from a promising position.

Sunderland were struggling to build a sustained spell of possession, their best outlet coming when Diamond was finally able to drive forward from deep.

His dribbling ability continued to catch the eye and he was hauled down on two occasions to give his side some breathing space.

It was a good challenge for the youngster, trying to exert an influence even as Davis pushed him back with his own attacking intent.

Leeds twice went close to extending their lead before the half-hour mark, the first attempt coming after a moment of individual brilliance from Gelhardt.

It looked as if there had been a handball in the build-up but Gelhardt did brilliantly to collect a pass and spin away from his marker. He drove all the way into the box, but his weak effort never troubled Patterson as it found the side-netting.

The away side then broke quickly from a Sunderland corner, Greenwood surging away from wing-back Cieran Dunne. He did well to carry the ball into the box, drawing a good stop from Patterson as he drove low at goal.

To their credit, Sunderland began to tighten up, forcing more errors in possession from Leeds as they got to grips with their passing play.

Xhemajli in particular impressed, resilient in defence and showing poise in possession to release the pressure at crucial moments.

Forging chances was a tougher task for the home side, though they almost equalised through the head of centre-back Sam Wilding.

A free-kick from deep was floated to the back post, where Xhemajli rose highest to win the header. Wilding met his flick-on and looked certain to score, only for Elia Caprile to brilliantly claw his effort away from the line.

The Black Cats continued to steady in the latter stages in the half, not quite able to forge any further openings but certainly keeping the oppositon at arm's length.

Leeds began the second half much in the same way they began the first, Greenwood going close as he pinched possession and flashed an effort across goal on his weaker foot.

Gelhardt went even closer moments later, twisting and turning away from Xhemajli. The Kosovan did well to stick with him, deflecting his effort onto the crossbar.

The former Wigan forward then drew a fine stop from Patterson as he got free in the box, the chance coming just as Sunderland were enjoying their best spell of the half.

They finally doubled their lead when Gelhardt was fouled on the edge of the area; Greenwood stepping up to curl a brilliant effort over the wall and out of Patterson's reach.

The Black Cats barely had time to gather their thoughts before the game was well and truly over.

Xhemajli, impressive for much of the game, played a slack pass out from the back straight into the feet of McKinstry.

Greenwood needed just one touch to set himself in the box, before thumping an emphatic effort into the roof of the net on his weaker foot.

Sunderland pushed for a consolation strike, though their efforts were limited to a long-distance effort from Neil and a Xhemajli header from the corner that followed.

Josh Hawkes, signed from Hartlepool United in the summer, had come on for his debut shortly before Greenwood’s second but had little chance to show his quality on the ball.

Diamond remained Sunderland’s main threat, and his relentless dribbling finally paid off when substitute Struijk hauled him down in the box with seconds to play.

He stepped up to send the last kick of the game into the bottom right-hand corner.

Sunderland U23s XI: Patterson; Taylor, Xhemajli, Wilding; Diamond, Hackett (Hawkes, 68), Dobson, Dunne; Wearne, Neil, Curry

Subs: Wombwell, Bond, Harris, Beaumont

Leeds United U23s XI : Caprile, Drameh, Davis (Struijk, 45), Casey, Cresswell, Hosannah, Bogusz (Jenkins, 45), Shackleton (Gotts, 45), Greenwood, Gelhardt, McKinstry

Subs: Van den Heuvel, Summerville

Bookings: Drameh, 31 Greenwood, 32 Neil, 72

Red Card: Drameh, 90

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