Scott Gardner: We should have scored five or six | OneFootball

Leeds United Under-21s boss Scott Gardner was full of praise for Freddie Lane after the full-back’s brace against Solihull Moors earned his team an important National League Cup victory.

A goal down at the ARMCO Arena, Harvey Vincent levelled proceedings before Lane’s double brought a first win in this season’s competition.

Discussing his matchwinner’s performance, the coach believes the versatile defender is back to his best after a tough few seasons.

“He offers us something different from that position,” Gardner said after the full-time whistle in the West Midlands. “He has had a difficult couple of years with injuries.

“That is probably the most consistent he has been, performance-wise and availability-wise. I think he has been very good.

“Obviously, he had the opportunity in pre-season to go with first team off the back of returning really well. So, I think he is in a good moment and hopefully people will see the good bits he has done today.”

After an opening match defeat at Boreham Wood, the 2025 champions of the competition registered their first win in this edition of the tournament this time around.

On the victory, Gardner added: “I thought it was a game where we should be coming away scoring five or six and with people talking about our football.”