Leeds United: Don Goodman shocked Blackburn got away with ‘taking the mick’ at Elland Road
Don Goodman couldn’t believe Aynsley Pears was allowed to get away with “taking the mick” in the first half against Leeds United.
The Sky Sports pundit reacted live on the match commentary on 13 April as the Blackburn Rovers keeper held onto the ball in his area for an extended period in the 11th minute at Elland Road, with the referee letting it happen to jeers from the crowd, which got increasingly loud as Peers then decided to usher all his defenders up the pitch for a long kick and waste more time.
With the Whites so formidable for the most part at home and Blackburn just three points away from the relegation zone the visitors looked to sit deep and frustrate Daniel Farke’s side in the same way Sunderland did in midweek, and Goodman was shocked that they weren’t pulled up on it early as they made their tactics obvious.
He said (12.43pm): “I have to say, it’s taking the mick really that was. To be fair, surprised he got away with that – a little word.
“But that was a real long time from when he caught it to when he released it.”
Daniel Farke must get Leeds United win after Aynsley Pears move
With the race for the title and the automatic promotion spots as close as ever the need for a result goes without saying.
But in light of the Whites’ record dipping of late to the point where Farke’s side has only won one of the past four Championship outings, the requirement is all the more important.
And with Leicester’s own collapse in form to lose a sixth game in 10 against Plymouth last night it is clearly vital to do whatever it takes to take all three points against Blackburn in front of the home fans.
They may have been beaten 5-0 by Bristol City in midweek, but can’t be taken lightly when they went to Sunderland and won 5-1 at the beginning of the month so any weaknesses need to be addressed by the manager at the break, to force the visitors to come out of their shell.
John Eustace’s side are hardly the first to come to Elland Road and look to frustrate Leeds United, but few made it as obvious as early as Pears did for Rovers.
The longer the game stays goalless the more successful such tactics will be, so while the officials will have to be on top of it the home side have to take matters into their own hands and be more clinical in attack, with Joel Piroe needing to show his quality up front as much as ever after coming back into the starting XI for the first time in weeks over Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph.
Illan Meslier had to be sharp to deny Sammie Szmodics late in the half as the peril of letting this game drift made itself clear, with the risk of Blackburn catching Leeds on the break and nicking a goal which would allow them to shut up shop completely at the back.
And the howls of derision from the stands as one minute of stoppage time was shown by the fourth official, and boos once the whistle was blown, shows Goodman was not alone in his disbelief at what the away side were allowed.
In other Leeds United news, a senior leader at Elland Road is now fully expecting to leave the club says Phil Hay.
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