Journalist Joe Donnohue has claimed that Leeds United were denied a penalty in their Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
Jesse Marsch’s side took a short-free kick that showed shades of the Netherlands at the World Cup against Argentina, but Leeds weren’t able to convert.
But the set piece was certainly a talking point from a Whites perspective, as Rodrigo was brought down by Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Reporting on the match on Twitter, D0nnohue claimed that the incident ‘looked a penalty on the replay’, with the score being 1-0 at the time Leeds could feel very hard done by.
He tweeted, ’23’ Short free-kick into Rodrigo’s feet. Douglas Luiz pulls the Leeds man down inside the area. Game appears as though it’ll carry on. Looked a penalty on the replay.’
TIF’s view on Donnohue’s tweet…
We believe that Leeds were wrongly denied a penalty in the early stages of the match, which could’ve certainly changed the trajectory of the game had it been given and converted.
It could be a decision that comes back to haunt them, as in their last four games before the Aston Villa fixture they hadn’t picked up three points. Picking up points is particularly crucial for the Whites and the teams around them as they’re still in the mix for avoiding the drop.
A positive that Leeds can take from the game was their fluidity and desire to attack. They certainly threatened the Villa defence, but it seems they just need a clinical forward who can put away they chances that they supply.
Marsch’s side looks close to signing Bundesliga youngster Georginio Rutter with a ‘total agreement’ reached, for Leeds’ sake they’ll hope he’ll be the real deal.