Dermot Gallagher drops verdict on Leeds United v Norwich City controversy as Sky Sports footage emerges
Dermot Gallagher believes a foul should have been awarded for Borja Souza’s lunge on Wilfried Gnonto during the playoff clash between Leeds and Norwich.
The Whites and Canaries battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Carrow Road in the first leg of their clash on Sunday 12 May, but a huge moment of contention came in the first half when Gnonto hit the floor on the edge of the box.
Leeds wanted a penalty for the incident although replays suggested it may have been just outside the box, and while appearing on Ref Watch live on Sky Sports (13 May), Gallagher admitted he was surprised a foul wasn’t given although believes with VAR it would’ve been a free-kick.
“I think it’s a foul,” he said. “Whether it’s inside the penalty area or not, it’s difficult to say. The referee thinks that the Norwich player plays the ball. He doesn’t even give a foul.
“He doesn’t even give a free-kick. He genuinely thinks the Norwich player plays it because of his angle.
“Had there been VAR, I don’t think it would have been a penalty as I think the main point of contact is outside the box.”
Leeds United need more to get to Wembley
Daniel Farke made it very clear after the draw at Carrow Road that the plan was to frustrate Norwich and ensure the defensive stability of the team came back.
It worked with Norwich failing to get a real clear cut chance at all throughout the game, but Leeds failed to really create anything themselves either and that needs to improve in the second leg.
With the level of attacking quality that the manager has at his disposal, he needs to find a way to put them in better situations during the second leg and then at Wembley the team will have a better opportunity too.
In this instance the team will feel as though they should have got a penalty, and Farke admitted after the game he felt there should have been a goal not ruled out too, but that’s gone now.
The team now have to refocus ahead of Thursday 16 May and get back to what earned them 90 points in the regular season.
In other Leeds news, Andy Hinchcliffe was stunned by what he saw during the draw with Norwich.
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