Leeds United’s Under-21s players can take a lot of positives from their EFL Trophy defeat at Oldham Athletic believes boss Scott Gardner.

Goals from in-form forwards Callum Mills and Carrick Njinko had put the Whites into the lead against their Sky Bet League Two counterparts until the opposition’s experience shone through in the second half.

“There were a lot of individual actions where, like I said to you before, we don’t get that type of test in Under-21s football,” the coach told BBC Radio Leeds after the full-time whistle at Boundary Park.

“A massive learning opportunity for us with the physicality, the aggression and dealing with moments where they maybe got on top a little bit. So, that was probably the most disappointing thing for us, that we maybe changed our way of playing in the second half when they had a little bit of pressure.

“But that is why we are in this competition, it is why we want to have these games. We can’t recreate that. They have to learn and build. They will get loads from that experience tonight and we can review with them.

“I think we are flat in the changing room because we know that we can play better. I thought for maybe 45 to 50 minutes we saw probably 75 per cent of what we are capable of but there is definitely more in there for us. I am pleased they are disappointed because they know they can do better.

“The message to the players at the end is you can see individuals getting stronger in certain areas in our club. Of course, we want to win and we want to qualify and win games, but the priority is to develop the individual.

“We have a small group. We have had a lot of games in a short period of time and that just shows to the lads if they want to play at this level, they are going to have to be able to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday consistently.”