Junior Firpo leaves BT Sport pundit’s mind blown in ‘crazy’ incident as Leeds United drew 2-2 with Newcastle at Elland Road
Junior Firpo was branded “crazy” by Lucy Ward as the Leeds United defender succeeded in being sent off after multiple attempts against Newcastle.
Having escaped with just a booking after a VAR review determined his second-half lunge on Bruno Guimaraes hadn’t landed with his studs on the Brazilian, he then conceded a penalty for handball after another video assistant intervention but still Simon Hooper kept him on the pitch.
The 26-year-old was finally given his marching orders with a second yellow as the dramatic game ticked into six minutes of injury time for bringing down Anthony Gordon on the edge of the area, and Ward was nonplussed at his second-half performance.
Ward reacted live on the BT Sport match commentary as he was eventually sent off, saying (13 May, 2.16pm): “He just makes some crazy decisions. I mean, what is he doing, Firpo?
“There’s been some crazy challenges in dangerous areas from both teams… Leeds are so desperate for that winner, the predicament they’re in in the league.”
She added that he “should have been sent off for the penalty as well I suspect, for the second yellow card”.
Wild
Firpo has been a target for plenty of criticism during his two seasons at Elland Road, and possibly some of it has been unfair when plenty of his teammates have been just as bad.
Having been brought in from the cold since Jesse Marsch was sacked, and given a run at left-back under the subsequent revolving door in the dug-out, the former Barcelona man had looked significantly improved at times.
But the release of tension, personally and collectively, that his winner against Southampton brought back on 25 February in Javi Gracia’s first game in charge feels like a lifetime ago now.
The Spaniard has since departed, and Firpo’s form has disintegrated along with his team’s, leaving Leeds United scrapping to survive in the final two games under Sam Allardyce after the point against Eddie Howe’s men.
There was even some positive signs from the left-back on the day as his first-half burst into the box drew a Joelinton foul and looked like it would lead to a two-goal advantage.
Patrick Bamford’s soft miss appeared to see Firpo throw caution to the wind in an increasingly erratic display that meant his teammates rescued a draw more in spite than because of him.
Desperate the Whites definitely were, and still are, as the relegation spots reduced to two with Southampton’s fate sealed, and major pressure now rests on the West Ham clash next Sunday (21 May).
In other Leeds United news, Richard Keys shocked at footage of decision that he thinks may have relegated the Whites.