Mills shocked after Leeds v Middlesbrough first-half incident – ‘Bizarre’
Danny Mills was left shocked after Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds United in front against Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Tuesday under “bizarre” circumstances.
The Whites took the lead against Michael Carrick’s side 14 minutes into the game on 10 December, with Gnonto capitalising on an error from Boro goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
Although the Senegalese did well to keep out the ball after Dan James’ cross was deflected off one of his defenders, he attempted to deny Gnonto with an impromptu tackle on the floor, leaving Mills baffled.
“Very bizarre. I’m not sure Willy Gnonto knows how he’s scored that, but he has scored”, the former Whites and Boro man said on talkSPORT2 [10 December, 8:14 pm].
“It’s a good ball down the outside, a decent cross from James, gets a little deflection and then it gets another deflection off the defender.
“Seny Dieng, he makes the initial save with his legs, it’s really good and then the ball is in and around his legs, and he just panics.
“I don’t know why he sort of panics. Surely, he can just make half an effort and throw his hands towards that.
“It’s not like Gnonto is sliding in with two feet and it’s going to be like dangerous, and the goalkeeper is thinking, ‘I’m going to get my eggs kicked off’. There’s not even any of that jeopardy.”
Mills shocked after Leeds v Middlesbrough first-half incident – ‘Bizarre’
Although the circumstances of the goal were bizarre indeed, it came as a result of Leeds putting pressure on Middlesbrough.
Daniel Farke’s side started the game on the front foot and reaped the rewards through Gnonto’s opener.
With the promotion race heating up, the West Yorkshire outfit have the chance to back on top of the table while also putting one over on one of their rivals.
They will, therefore, be determined to build on their 2-0 victory over Derby County at the weekend and claim all three points against Carrick and co.
The Elland Road outfit are on course to do exactly that, having gone into the half-time break with a one-goal lead.
It remains to be seen if they can add more to their tally and put the game to bed early on in the second half.
It would allow Farke to take off some of his key players and give some playing time to the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Patrick Bamford and Josuha Guilavogui.
In other Leeds United news, Richard Keys has raised the Whites as an example in a fresh swipe aimed at the Premier League.
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