By George Overhill

18th Mar, 2023 | 7:30pm

Jonny blasted for 'ultimate sin' by ex-referee in awful challenge on Luke Ayling as Leeds United win wild game at Wolves

Jonny was accused of committing “the ultimate sin” as his horror-challenge on Luke Ayling got him sent off in the Leeds United win at Wolves.

The defender had scored from long range as his side attempted to mount a comeback from 3-0 against the Whites, but former referee Peter Walton slammed his dangerous late stamp on his opposite number, which saw him sent off after a VAR review and ended the revival.

Javi Gracia’s side ultimately came out of a drama-filled game with a 4-2 victory against the 10 men, but Ayling was extremely lucky to escape a major injury in the clash.

Reacting live on BT Sport Score on Saturday (18 March, 4.41pm) Michael Brown said of the Leeds defender: “He’ll do well to not be injured here, because of the way that shin moves, the contact and all the force is on the bottom of his ankle. It’s a really, really bad one,” as other pundits winced at the replays.

“That’s one you don’t like looking at in slow motion,” added Jules Breach before bringing in Walton.

Former Premier League referee Walton said: “What Jonny’s done here is committed the ultimate sin, of over-running the ball. In trying to get it back he’s over-stretched himself and caught the player right on the shin. I think it’s a red card because of the force going behind that.”

Once the sending off was confirmed Brown added: “Luke Ayling’s got away with it because he’s on his feet and he’s running round.”

Nailed on

There was only going to be one outcome in terms of the card once the challenge was referred to the pitch-side monitor, having originally only brought a yellow card.

Ayling somehow came out of it unscathed on a day where he was involved in more of the action that virtually anyone else on the pitch.

His defensive performance on the right of the back line was dreadful, but he popped up unmarked to score his first goal since the victory a year ago in the same game, and was on the receiving end of the Jonny challenge.

He will be delighted to come out of it with three points and without any medical problems, and is proving to be the Whites’ lucky charm on visits to Molineux.

Twice now on 18 March Leeds United have gone to Wolves and played badly in defence but somehow come out of the game with a huge win, and Ayling’s Robbie Keane celebration is becoming a tradition.

There was all sorts that needs to improve from the performance going forward, but as under Jesse Marsch it was the same for Gracia, with a crucial three points coming out of the chaos and for now that is all that matters.

In other Leeds United news, Chris Sutton hailed “great telly” as one man was left “absolutely raging” amid the drama at Molineux.

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