Shrewsbury Town put in an excellent performance against Leeds - but ultimately slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.

Matt Taylor's side put in a brave display full of energy in Yorkshire - with their performance seeing them enjoy a deserved lead at half-time thanks to a Taylor Perry goal.

Leeds hit back after the interval with goals from Joe Gelhardt and substitute Pascal Struijk ultimately seeing them clinch a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Town, though, left Elland Road with their heads held high following a gutsy performance full of positives.

Team news:

Head coach Matt Taylor made two changes to the side that beat Cheltenham on Saturday with Mal Benning and Travis Hernes coming in for Jordan Shipley and Dan Udoh.

A slight formation change saw Salop go from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-2-1 formation on the night with Tom Bayliss and Travis Hernes operating slightly behind Ryan Bowman.

Club captain Chey Dunkley returned to the squad and made the bench following an injury.

Daniel Farke’s Leeds started a strong team on the night, playing a 4-3-3 system that saw Joe Gelhardt operate as the central striker with Dan James and Ian Poveda on the wings.

Match Report

It was Town who caught the eye right from kick-off with Matt Taylor's side keeping their shape well while our high press ensured we kept forcing Leeds into mistakes - with the home side consistently giving the ball away.

The hosts did create a couple of half-chances with speculative efforts from the edge of the box.

But Town's organisation and energy ensured that when we took the lead - just before the half-hour mark - it was deserved.

The goal arrived when Tom Bayliss played a clever ball into Taylor Perry who drove towards Leeds’ box before hitting a shot that deflected off Leo Hjelde and in.

Shrewsbury had another chance shortly after when Mal Benning’s inviting corner was met by Morgan Feeney. His header was then almost tapped home by Flanagan only for a defender to make a crucial block.

Leeds created a chance to draw level in first-half stoppage time with Joe Gelhardt sending a low drive from outside the box wide. 

Overall, though, Town went in at the break thoroughly deserving their lead.

Having gone off to boos, Leeds came flying out the traps following the re-start.

They got back on terms in the 52nd minute when Ian Poveda’s original effort was saved well by Marko Marosi. But the ball then fell kindly for Joe Gelhardt who tapped it in. 

Five minutes later, the hosts went ahead when a corner was whipped in which hit Nohan Kenneh before falling into the path of Pascal Struijk to smash it home.  

With an eye on Stevenage on Saturday, Taylor made a triple change in the 77^th minute with Tunmise Sobowale, Jason Sraha and Harvey Watts replacing Morgan Feeney, Carl Winchester and Tom Bayliss.  

Town went on to press for an equaliser in the closing stages. Kenneh saw a speculative effort from distance sail over, while Shipley sent in a dangerous cross that was just too high for Watts.

And that meant - despite a valiant Town display - it was Leeds who went onto clinch a place in the second round.

Leeds United: Karl Darlow; Luke Ayling, Ethan Ampadu, Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde; Jamie Shackleton, Archie Gray, Darko Gyabi; Dan James, Ian Poveda, Joe Gelhardt 

Substitutes: Ilan Meslier, Kris Klaesson, Sonny Perkins, Pascal Struijk, Luis Sinisterra, Sam Byram, Lewis Bate, Cody Drameh, Kris Moore  

Shrewsbury Town: Marko Marosi; Joe Anderson, Tom Flanagan, Morgan Feeney (Jason Sraha 77'); Mal Benning, Nohan Kenneh, Taylor Perry, Carl Winchester (Tunmise Sobowale 77') Travis Hernes (Jordan Shipley 55'), Tom Bayliss (Harvey Watts 77'); Ryan Bowman (Dan Udoh 60') 

Unused subs: Harry Burgoyne, Chey Dunkley  

Referee: Seb Stockbridge 

Attendance: 35,129 (1,225 away)