Two controversial penalty calls proved decisive as Aston Villa's Under-23s fell to a 3-2 defeat at Leeds United on Sunday.
Mark Delaney's side raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Tyreik Wright but the hosts fought back before half-time, levelling the score through Bobby Kamwa and Sam Greenwood's spot-kick, awarded after Callum Rowe was judged to have handled inside the area.
Tyler Roberts scored the winner from the spot, after Rowe was penalised for a challenge made outside the box.
Leeds started brighly and found themselves in promising areas early on, without really troubling Tom Heaton in the Villa goal.
The experienced 'keeper was first called into action on 19 minutes, as he tipped Greenwood's dipping free-kick over the bar.
Villa took the lead midway through the first half, as Philogene-Bidace - who was nominated for November's Premier League 2 Player of the Month award - continued his fine recent form with another goal.
Heaton then made another strong stop from Kamwa, before Wright picked up the ball down the other end and finished clincally with his left foot after cutting inside.
That goal sparked a crazy period of action, with Leeds fighting back to level the scores before the break.
Kamwa pulled one back, before Villa midfielder Rowe was harshly penalised after the ball struck his arm as he slid to block a cross, with Greenwood converting from the spot to make it 2-2.
There was still time for Philogene-Bidace to strike the woodwork with a free-kick before the first half came to a close.
Villa had a golden chance to re-take the lead 10 minutes into the second half, but Wright's effort was saved before substitute Edward Rowe fired the rebound over the bar.
With 20 minutes to play, Rowe collided with his man on the edge of the penalty area, but the referee bizarrely pointed to the spot and Roberts made no mistake to put Leeds ahead.
Delaney's side - without several key players following the FA Youth Cup third round win at Reading on Friday night - struggled to find a way back into the game and Heaton did well to keep the score at 3-2.
Despite the defeat, there were positives to take with the experienced trio of Heaton, Frédéric Guilbert and Kortney Hause all getting more minutes under their belt.
Leeds United: Caprile, Drameh, Davis (Jenkins, 46'), Struijk (Poveda, 46'), Cresswell, Casey, Kamwa, Greenwood, Gelhardt, Hernandez (Roberts, 46'), Huggins.
Substitutes not used: Christy, Kenneh.
Aston Villa: Heaton, Guilbert, Chrisene, D. Revan (C), Hause (M. Sohna, 65'), Sylla, Tait (E. Rowe, 54'), C. Rowe, Wright, H. Sohna (Ealing, 78'), Philogene-Bidace.
Substitutes not used: Onodi, Bridge.
