Credit: ITV Football

Dan Godfrey

Sun 9 March 2025 14:00, UK

Leeds United knocked on the door but could not find a way through as they crashed to defeat against Portsmouth on Sunday.

A double save from Nicolas Schmid denied both Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe in the first half, before Junior Firpo was denied three times in the second.

Referee Rob Jones waved away clear penalty appeals after Matt Ritchie appeared to kick through the leg of Dan James too, as Portsmouth held on for a 1-0 win.

Neil Warnock lays into referee after penalty shout

One individual who didn’t hold back in his opinions on the incident was former Leeds boss Neil Warnock, who was a pundit live on Sky Sports (9 March, 12:53).

Warnock described the lack of a penalty as a “disgrace” and fired off that Jones and fellow officials “don’t know the game”.

Jobi McAnuff, alongside him, was also baffled, after Lee Hendrie had called it a “stonewall” penalty on James during the live commentary.

Another controversial call was allowed to pass, too, as Connor Ogilvie avoided a booking after a late challenge on Illan Meslier in closing down the goalkeeper.

“Absolutely, it’s a disgrace,” Warnock began.

“He’s in a good position as well, the referee. He puts his arm up as if he’s going to blow, then he puts it down.

“They know the laws, they just don’t know the game. You’re not going to get a more obvious penalty than that – deary me.”

Leeds United have match-winner in James

One thing is for sure, Leeds are where they are because in no small part of players such as James, Piroe and Solomon.

They have been the players to make the difference going forward, a huge part of why Leeds are runaway leaders in terms of goals scored – averaging more than two goals a game heading into the Portsmouth clash.

Pompey have now avoided defeat against Leeds this season, after the 3-3 draw from Elland Road against Farke’s Leeds on the opening weekend of the season, as the Whites passed up further chances in the August contest.

James has fine-tuned several elements of his game to exhibit himself as a Premier League-quality player in a Championship side – albeit one of the very best sides to grace the division.

Ritchie, on the giving end of that particular challenge, has enjoyed a stellar career himself, much of it spent in the Premier League – where the Leeds side will be hoping to be sooner rather than later.

They need to bounce back, as soon as possible.