Leeds United controversy: Josuha Guilavogui lucky v Harrogate
Josuha Guilavogui was lucky not to concede a penalty as Leeds United beat Harrogate 1-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, Paul Robinson has said.
The Whites limped to victory over the League Two outfit at Elland Road on 11 January, but things could have been different had the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for an alleged foul on Josh March by Guilavogui.
Reviewing the incident in real-time, Robinson tipped his hat towards March and admitted that the Frenchman was fortunate not to be penalised.
“He’s very lucky there, Guilavogui, there is no VAR in operation, as we know, until the fifth round”, Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 (11 January, 5:57 pm).
“But March, he steals a march on him, gets around Guilavogui and he puts his left arm across him.
“It looks like he tangles with his left foot. Josh March does really, really well, gets the wrong side of the centre-half and makes the referee make a really big decision right in front of that Leeds United support.
“He was rolling on the ground, Josh March, not because he was injured, not because he was diving, just in pure frustration that he didn’t get the penalty. He was adamant it was a penalty.”
Josuha Guilavogui makes first Leeds United start v Harrogate Town
It is worth noting that the game against Harrogate was Guilavogui’s first start for Leeds United.
The Yorkshire-based club signed the 34-year-old on a free transfer in October after Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev picked up serious injuries.
With Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell then establishing themselves as Daniel Farke’s preferred midfield duo, the veteran has been restricted to just nine appearances off the bench in the Championship.
Playing at the heart of the defence alongside Pascal Struijk, Guilavogui helped the Elland Road outfit win 1-0 and progress into the fourth round of the FA Cup in his first start for the club.
With 20 games left to play in the Championship, the former Mainz star is likely to start more games for Leeds between now and the end of the season.
If he finds playing time hard to come by in the league, he would be hopeful of starting for the Whites in their next FA Cup clash.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites’ EFL rivals have entered the race to sign one of Farke’s players.
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