VAR would have acted on ‘crude’ Sam Bryam incident in Leeds United win v Swansea City
A third goal by Leeds United all but confirmed three points for the home side at Elland Road on Wednesday as Dan James punished Swansea City for overplaying in midfield.
Sam Byram’s heavy challenge on Ollie Cooper pushed the ball towards Georginio Rutter who, with already a goal to his name, slid in James to fire home from close range.
It was the final nail in the coffin as Leeds fought hard for all three points, following a below-par first half between the two sides. However, Danny Mills believes there was reason for Swansea to feel hard-done-by in the lead-up to the goal.
“If this is the Premier League, that is going to VAR,” Mills said live on talkSPORT 2 (29 November, 9:10pm) because he thought Bryam’s challenge was too strong.
“That would be overturned because of the challenge on the halfway line – it was crude, from behind.”
A totally different half of football
The difference between the first and second half was like night and day for Daniel Farke and Leeds. The defender was much more confident, the control in midfield was more stable, and Leeds’ attack was seamless, with no need for hopeful hoofs over the top.
The main argument for Mills’ comment is that this is not the Premier League and there is no VAR. The referee Samuel Allison saw the challenge on Cooper in real-time and was happy with it, especially with Byram looking to have won the ball, whether it was a heavy tackle or not.
Either way, James will be thrilled with his fifth goal of the season as he continues to be in one of the best forms of his career.
Leeds’ third was an all-important one, leaving daylight between the Whites and their visitors, who would have felt a sense of confidence from the home side’s first-half performance, up until Rutter’s injury-time goal.
But Rutter’s goal may have been the reason for the Swan’s poor showing after the break, as Leeds were finally able to dictate play and threaten Carl Rushworth in a more controlled manner.
The victory means that the Whites remain seven points behind second-place Ipswich Town and eight points behind league leaders Leicester City, extending their unbeaten run at home to six matches.
A much-needed win after a disappointing draw with Rotherham United.
In other Leeds United news, high-earning star “burning with desire” to leave Elland Road in January.