Leeds United travel to Deepdale to take on Preston North End in the Championship on Tuesday evening, and fans have taken to Twitter to slam Paul Heckingbottom’s decision to start Vurnon Anita.
The Whites are coming into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw with relegation candidates Sunderland at the weekend, with Pablo Hernandez rescuing a point after they fell behind to a Paddy McNair effort.
The main Leeds talking point from the match was Gaetano Berardi’s 90th-minute red card, with the Swiss defender being sent off for a reckless and dangerous challenge on Callum McManaman.
That red card was the 29-year-old’s third of the Championship season, and his subsequent five-match ban means that his season is now over, with Leeds only having five games left to play.
Their opponents Preston are coming in on the back of a terrible run of results that has seen them lose three on the trot, the latest coming in a 1-0 defeat to Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Preston’s play-off hopes still remain vaguely in tact, sitting six points behind sixth-placed Middlesbrough, but they need a win against the Whites to stay in touch.
Attention before the game has turned to the selection of 29-year-old Anita at left-back, with many calling for youngster Tom Pearce to be handed a chance after making his debut earlier this season.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
Because playing Pearce is far too simple
— Sam Cookson (@samcookson_) April 10, 2018
Not being funny but whats the point in playing Anita at left back? Play Pearce ffs, he had a solid debut.
— Keiran Hickman (@Kasper_Sickman) April 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/josh04678858/status/983763215590088704
https://twitter.com/scotttownend2/status/983763894475902976
Anita???? Why hasn't pearce played again!! Bordering on a joke midfielder at lb and a winger at rb!!! Heckingbottom hasn't got a clue!!!!
— Damian Staniforth (@Damo_1983) April 10, 2018
stop putting RBs at LB and having a perfectly good LB on the bench #HeckyOut.
— Steve (@Yorkie6013) April 10, 2018
Why not play Anita in his actual position ffs
— ??en (@ApacheCopter___) April 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/julianellis70/status/983763204873519104