Neil Redfearn wants Javi Gracia to act on Junior Firpo after ‘sloppy’ Leeds United moment v Crystal Palace
Neil Redfearn has urged Leeds United manager Javi Gracia to act on Junior Firpo following his “sloppy” moment in the match against Crystal Palace on Sunday (9 April).
The defender picked up a yellow card in the 44th minute of the match at Elland Road for a poor challenge on Michael Olise.
And to make matters worse for the hosts, the Eagles netted from the wrestling free-kick through defender Marc Guehi.
“Firpo’s yellow card is a problem for Leeds,” Redfearn said on BBC Radio Leeds, as quoted by BBC Sport. “The right-hand side is Palace’s best outlet. Javi Gracia will have to look at that.”
The pundit continued: “That is the issue whe you give cheap free-kicks away. Two Palace players went for it unmarked. This is the biggest 1-1 mauling Palace will have. They have not been it.”
Redfearn added: “It is a massive blow for Leeds. They just started giving sloppy free-kicks away. Leeds should be out of sight.”
Costly mistake
Leeds definitely had the better chances in the first half of the clash with Palace, with Gracia certain to be frustrated that the sides went into the break level at 1-1.
And he will be even more frustrated at not only conceding from a set piece, but first and foremost giving the set piece away.
Yet more frustration will come given that the goal was conceded in first half stoppage time, completely changing the outlook for the second half for both clubs.
Giving away such needless free kicks will not go down well with the home support, and it certainly isn’t the first time that Firpo has been guilty of such fouls.
Despite the absence of the injured Wilfried Zaha, the Leeds defence still find themselves under plenty of pressure from Palace’s attackers, with Firpo under particular pressure on his favoured left side.
The hosts should definitely have cleared the ball from the resulting free-kick, but they will be pointing the finger at Firpo for giving it away so recklessly in the first place.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are predicted to stay in the Premier League according to the numbers crunched by FiveThirtyEight’s Super Computer.