Chris Sutton stunned by what ‘brilliant’ James Justin did to Phil Foden in Leeds vs Man City clash
James Justin wowed Chris Sutton with a superb piece of defending despite Leeds United making a nightmare start at Man City.
With Daniel Farke facing sack pressure at Leeds the German brought Justin in for his first start at left-back, behind a return for Willy Gnonto on the wing.
The pair contrived to allow Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes to set the latter free down their flank inside the very first minute, leading to Phil Foden’s opener.
But Justin, at least, rebounded just inside 20 minutes to prevent Foden from doubling the lead, leaving Sutton highly impressed on commentary.
Justin denies Phil Foden with superb block
In the 18th minute Nico O’Reilly got behind Jayden Bogle down the Leeds right and pulled the ball back across the box, seemingly for Foden to slot simply past Lucas Perri at the back post.
Instead Justin managed to turn and throw himself in to deliver a perfect last-gasp block, with the rebound then deflected wide.
Reacting live on BBC Radio 5Live Sutton said: “That’s brilliant from James Justin because Phil Foden, when the ball’s coming towards him, seven yards out, he thinks he’s scored.
“But Justin, out of nowhere, throws himself to his left-hand side and makes a brilliant block.”
Unfortunately for Farke and Leeds it mattered little as Josko Gvardiol doubled the lead on 25 minutes, with Perri too weak with an attempted punch from a corner and a VAR review confirming the strike.
A Dominic Calvert-Lewin-inspired fightback saw Leeds level at 2-2 in the second half, but Foden’s injury-time second stole the win.
49ers may be working on Farke replacement
Pep Guardiola’s Man City at the Etihad was never going to be easy but the manner of the start will still have only worsened Farke‘s prospects.
Going behind to the fastest goal of the Premier League campaign so far after being easily pried open down the side where the German had made two changes to his line-up doesn’t scream of him managing to inspire his players to be up for the fight.
The second half was a completely different story and suggested the current set-up isn’t a complete lost cause, but it may be too little too late.
It’s tempting to conclude that Leeds losing at home to Aston Villa last week was the final nail in the coffin for Farke and the 49ers are currently working behind the scenes on a replacement.
There would probably be little point in sending a new man out to get beaten at Man City or potentially at home to Chelsea on Wednesday, although they might be given the chance to add to Liverpool’s recent woes next weekend.
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