Mark Smith

Sat 4 December 2021 10:10, UK

David Prutton has taken aim at Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk after the much-needed 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The Dutchman was asked to fill in at left-back and was given the runaround by Jordan Ayew at times at Elland Road.

Palace were left screaming for a penalty after what they deemed a push from Struijk, and Prutton admitted that he agreed with their calls after a “clumsy” challenge.

Writing in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post this week (3rd December), Sky Sports pundit Prutton took aim at the defender.

“Pascal Struijk’s push on Jordan Ayew moving into his own 18-yard box was way too clumsy for me and I am surprised that it didn’t draw more attention from the referee to be honest,” he wrote.

“Consequently, I was left wondering how on earth that did not get looked at or processed.”

Clumsy.

You could tell that Struijk was uncomfortable down the left-hand side as soon as the very first whistle was blown on Tuesday (30th November).

More comfortable in the heart of defence, it was a tough evening, but his hip injury that he has been carrying for weeks certainly can’t have helped.

Junior Firpo eventually impressed after a rocky start to the second half, so could find himself handed a start tomorrow (5th December) against Brentford.

Was it a penalty though? Without trying to sound biased towards our club, there was never enough contact to make Ayew throw himself to the ground as he did.

VAR did check the incident after the likes of Conor Gallagher ran towards the referee, and there was no foul play seen.

That is in the past now, and all eyes are now on that Brentford game as we look to make it consecutive wins for the first time this season, possibly without Struijk starting.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are ready to make major January signings with unexpected deals to force action