Daniel Farke recently warned Leeds fans to expect a ‘bumpy’ start to the season following a summer of upheaval at Elland Road.
They are proving prophetic words from the German, whose side followed their dramatic 2-2 Championship opener against Cardiff with a nervy Carabao Cup first-round win against League One Shrewsbury.
After an awful opening 45 minutes, Leeds were 1-0 down and booed off at the break in front of a near-capacity 35,129 crowd.
Taylor Perry’s spectacular deflected strike was no more than Matt Taylor’s men deserved for their first-half vibrancy.
Leeds, though, upped the tempo after the break and goals from Joe Gelhardt and half-time substitute Pascal Struijk early in the second half turned the tie in their favour.
Defender Pascal Struijk bundled home the winner for Leeds in the 58th minute
Joe Gelhardt tucked away the rebound after Ian Poveda’s shot was parried by Marko Marosi
Farke made six changes to the side which drew with Cardiff last Sunday, but too many fringe failed to make any real impression.
Left-back Leo Hjelde was hooked at half-time once again and former Manchester City youngster Darko Gyabi also failed to reappear for the second half.
Leeds’ insipid first-half display underlined the lack of depth in Farke’s squad with injuries already biting deep.
A season-long loan move for Tottenham defender Joe Rodon is expected to be completed but Bournemouth appear set to hijack Farke’s move for Norwich defender Max Aarons.
Archie Gray, 17, was rewarded for his outstanding debut against Cardiff with another start and he illustrated his rich promise again.
Too many passes from Leeds players were undercooked or overhit and they looked vulnerable when attempting to play out from the back.
Yet Gray showed his growing confidence by firing narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards before Shrewsbury led in the 28th minute.
Taylor Perry’s spectacular deflected strike put Shrewsbury ahead in the 28th minute
Driving at the heart of the Leeds defence, Perry evaded Gyabi and hit a fierce right-foot shot which deflected off Hjelde and flew past Leeds debutant Karl Darlow.
Leeds created next to nothing in the first half, but were level in the 52nd minute when Ian Poveda’s close-range shot was parried by Marko Marosi, with Gelhardt tucking away the rebound.
Six minutes later, a corner from the right was touched into the path of Strujk, who bundled the ball home at the far post.
From there Leeds did not look back and further half-chances came and went. It did not matter as Leeds secured their place in the second round.