Jermaine Jenas slams Max Wober for ‘madness’ in Leeds United draw v Newcastle live on BT Sport
Jermaine Jenas has slammed Leeds United defender Max Wober for his “moment of madness” that resulted in Newcastle’s first penalty in the Premier League clash at Elland Road on Saturday (13 May).
Moments after Patrick Bamford missed the opportunity to put the Whites 2-0 up from the penalty spot, Newcastle broke up the field and Wober hacked down Alexander Isak in his own box, with Simon Hooper pointing to the spot.
Callum Wilson struck home the subsequent penalty to bring the scores level, and reacting at half-time live on BT Sport, Jenas was critical of the over-aggressive defending by the Austrian international.
“Again, it is another moment of madness from Wober,” he said (13 May, 1.27pm).
“I think it is that fine balance between being really fired up for the game but then to have that element of calm when needed.”
Swing of momentum
When Bamford was lining up for his penalty a mere two minutes before Wilson fired his home at the other end, Leeds fans would have been thrilled with the opportunity to go 2-0 up against their Champions League-chasing opponents.
However, the Leeds striker’s poor penalty was easily saved by Nick Pope, and just a minute and a half later, Wober scythed Isak to the ground in calamitous style.
Although Allardyce would have wanted passion and commitment from his side at Elland Road, this was simply reckless from the Austrian international.
If he had tracked the run of the Magpies attacker, there most likely wouldn’t have been a clear sight of goal because the angle was tight and Leeds had plenty of defensive cover in the penalty area.
As it was, Newcastle went from being a kick away from a two-goal deficit to bringing proceedings level in a flash, and Bamford and Wober were culpable for these mistakes.
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