DESPITE finishing on the losing side twice in three days, Laurence Wilson thrived in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of Sunday's derby and caught the eye with a near-faultless display at El-land Road.
In fact, the left wing-back's steady and promising development has been one of the major positives to come out of an otherwise disappointing week.
Brought in on a free transfer from Everton this summer, Wilson arrived at Chester with a glowing recommendation from Goodison Park reserve team boss Andy Holden - the ex-City defender - ringing in his ears.
So far at least, the 19-year-old has not disappointed.
'I'm very happy - I love it,' said Wilson, who was one of 16 new faces drafted in by manager Mark Wright since the end of the season. 'When I came here I didn't know anyone, but we've all got on. We've had a couple of bonding sessions where we've all got to know each other and we have a laugh in training.
'It's only a matter of time before we all click.'
Picked as the sponsors' man of the match on Sunday, Wilson was even more prominent at a sparsely-populated Elland Road on Tuesday.
The teenager snapped into tackles all night and embarked on several attacking forays into Leeds territory.
And the home media were keen to learn more about Chester's blonde-haired full-back when Wright attended his post-match press conference.
The City boss beamed: 'He's only a kid but we've got big hopes for him and we think he can really, really do it.
'In the end, the Leeds right winger was crossing from deep. He didn't want to take Laurence on any more because he had the run on him.
'I'm really pleased for Laurence. He's really grown up and grown in stature.'
Wilson enjoyed his appearance on the big stage - despite the result.
'This is where everyone wants to play,' he said. 'Silly mistakes cost us but we played well, stuck in there and to play like that against a Championship side is good for us.
'We did deserve a goal and it's disappointing.
'But it's been the same with most teams - they don't have many chances against us but it's just silly goals costing us games.'
With Kevin Sandwith on the road to recovery from a hamstring injury, Wilson will soon find himself facing stiff competition for his place.
But he will not shirk the challenge and is more concerned about halting the Blues' three-match losing streak at Torquay tomorrow.
'For us to be promoted, we've got to win games like Torquay away,' he said. 'We still want to be promoted - that's our aim.
'It's too early in the season to say we will, but we'll give it a good go.'
