The small pocket of Leeds United fans standing in a lonely block of otherwise empty seats in Tottenham’s £1billion stadium may have been there supporting the Under-23s, but like the rest of us their minds were clearly elsewhere.

Leeds United’s official Twitter account was too busy posting Andrea Radrizanni’s hostage video to let us know who was actually playing for the U23s. Fifteen minutes into the game, they had another update: ‘#LUFC can today announce the appointment of Jesse Marsch as our new head coach, pending international clearance.’

The statement ended with a message to the supporters from Angus Kinnear: “At this challenging time, it is important that the club remains united from top to bottom. The fans have been amazing throughout Andrea’s tenure and we have no doubt they will unite behind Jesse and ensure the team quickly returns to winning with style.”

Leeds’ contingent in north London clearly got the message at the same time as the rest of us. As I closed Twitter and reverted my attention to the game, the fans there used their right to reply by singing Marcelo Bielsa’s name.

That’s all you really need to know about Leeds U23s’ draw with Tottenham, but if you’re a stickler for details, you might care about Sam Greenwood putting Leeds in front by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a penalty in the second half. The spot-kick was won in hilarious fashion, as Spurs defender Marques Muir went shoulder-charging through Max Dean with a foul so blatant even Paul Tierney would have given Leeds a penalty.

Dean is desperate to take penalties for the U23s. In their 3-0 win over Liverpool last month, he sprinted over to a fallen Crysencio Summerville, who had just been fouled to win a second penalty. It looked like Dean was asking if his friend was okay. He was actually asking if he could take the penalty, and left Summerville in a heap once he got the answer he wanted. To give Dean his credit, he doesn’t expect any sympathy himself. Muir’s challenge looked like it should have hurt as Dean slammed to the floor, but he bounced up pumping his fists and shouting towards the bench, asking if he could have this one too. Captain Greenwood, back in the team after knee surgery, was not going to pass on the responsibility. Dean was thwarted, but was still the first to join him celebrating in front of the Leeds fans.

Dean is always great fun for the U23s. He only turned eighteen last week, and plays with the restless enthusiasm of a boy trying to disrupt a match between his big brother’s friends. He was unlucky not to score twice early on, after good movement met saves from goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi. After the first shot, which Oluwayemi deflected wide for a corner, Dean kept running to the advertising hoardings, trying to get the ball back as soon as possible so Leeds could take a quick corner. The ball had bounced the other side, and Dean was balanced across the hoarding, feet off the ground, head tipping over, trying to grab it. Not the tallest of strikers, his arms couldn’t quite reach. He eventually gave up, sheepishly leaving it for the ball boy watching him from a few yards away.

Marsch’s appointment means the get-Jacko-in-and-play-the-kids dream died before it even began, but Dean’s energy was reflective of a bright team display from Mark Jackson’s team. Nohan Kenneh flashed two headers wide, and Amari Miller’s pressing gave Leeds an outlet whenever under pressure.

And if you really, really, really have to know all the details, Tottenham equalised with a late header from a set-piece, leaving Dean to pick the ball out of the back of the net and furiously boot it to the halfway line. Because that’s what Leeds United feels like right now. ⬢