So, just a 13 - 0 win and the others to lose. I can't see why anyone is worried to be fair. Last time we had this Ref we won 5 - 1 so don't need too much more this time.................
Hazard, Mumba, Szucs, Edwards, Hardie, Bundu, Randell, Tijani, Roberts, Talovierov, Palsson. Subs Grimshaw, Ogbeta, Houghton, Wright, Boateng. Katic, Sorinola, Baidoo, Issaka. Katic and Sorinola on bench. Roberts starts.
1-2.....F/T Byram...(18mins og).......................Gnonto...(53mins). ..........................................................Solomon...(90+1). Nearly scuppered Leeds title hopes.
The stats say we lost after a thrashing. They don’t lie: we lost, but I wouldn’t call it a thrashing. We played Muslic’s low block, vertical style and so Leeds had plenty of the ball. It was though a strong defensive performance in which we largely stifled Leeds and then hit them with quick breaks on transition. The stats show we only scored via an own goal but in fact it came from a quick break down the left leading to one of Bundu’s now trademark curling shots that hit the inside of the far post and bounced back in off a bemused defender. An own goal? Well technically yes….. but…. Teenager Caleb Roberts started against the strongest team in this division and if I say I didn’t notice he was there, it sounds like an insult. In fact what I mean is that he slotted in there as though he’d played a hundred games. I try not to vent my spleen on referees but this one was a shocker. Because Tijani is bigger and stronger than those trying to stop him, this ref assumed every contact must be a foul for Leeds. Then late on, he gives a free kick to them in the middle of the pitch which should have gone the other way and in the confusion, they score the winner. Yes, we should have defended it better but…. It was our free kick not theirs. We went down with all guns blazing. But we’re down.
The Ref was worse than shocking. This time I would go so far as to say he was completely biased. Or you could say he just cheated us at every turn. Gnoto is a very good player. However, he can't stay on his feet for love nor money no matter if there is contact or not. He is a diver in the first degree. The Ref must see him as his long lost love child or something because he gave him every little touch there was. Pathetic both fro the Ref and from the player. This is supposed to be the best side in the league but if that is what they have to resort to then it isn't for me. At times most of them were at it. Any sign of anything the other way was simply ignored by Officials and there was no consistancy throughout. Farke was as bad as his players, At one point signalling to the Ref for cards to be issued. He should be embarrassed not doing that. Having got that off my chest I would say that Leeds were obviously the better side on the day. However, they were not that impressive given the gap between the teams. They did need assistance to get the points. We are used to not having possession so that stat has no meaning in our performance. It's not how much you have the ball but what you do with it when you've got it. Bundu was immense today and I doubt we will hold onto him. Shame. Of the rest there wasn't really a bad performance but there were several lazy type efforts from time to time. I think most if not all would do well enough in league one. Sign Bundu if at all possible is my shout. I can't get past the amount of time Leeds players fell over and the Ref gave them a decision. It seemed that it was all they had to do. Despite this they didn't overrun us at any time whatever the stats might sugest. I have no sour grapes towards Leeds because our fate was already settled before the whistle went today so my comments are from an objective stance. However, if we had needed a result today to stay up I would be totally pissed with the way the game went. Stats wise on the scale of one to ten the Leeds players, the Ref and the Leeds manager should be embarrased at their style of play.
