Graham Smyth hits back at John Eustace comments after Leeds United v Blackburn
Graham Smyth has hit back at John Eustace’s “laughable” comments after Leeds United drew 1-1 against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
Daniel Farke’s side were made to wait until the 88th minute to take a well-deserved lead at Elland Road, only for Danny Batth to equalise just two minutes later on 1 January.
All of this action meant 10 minutes of added time, with Leeds pushing for all three points, but more time was only added on after a flurry of yellow cards brandished by referee Oliver Langford.
Writing via the Yorkshire Evening Post [2 January], Smyth said: “You can and should credit Blackburn for their defensive ability and for the spirit they showed in fighting back having conceded a goal so late on.
“Eustace clearly knows exactly how to get a result against Farke and Leeds, given the evidence of the last four meetings. But his anger at the officials for adding on 10 minutes at the end of the game was quite incredible, given the time-wasting tactics employed by his side.
“If you live by the sword you should be prepared to die by it and suggesting that Blackburn were somehow wronged by the addition of so many minutes is laughable. Are supporters not entitled to a bit more football for the large amounts of money they shell out for tickets?
“Football where the ball is actually in play, that is, and not football where a player goes down for 30 seconds to a minute and then gets up without needing treatment.”
Leeds United suffer late blow in draw v Blackburn Rovers
Everyone in Elland Road will have thought all three points were remaining with the Whites when Pascal Struijk fired home his 88th-minute penalty, only to be disappointed moments later.
While Leeds now have a three-point gap at the top of the Championship table, with Burnley and Sheffield United falling over hurdles, that gap could have been even bigger.
After missing out on promotion to the Premier League last term, losing to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley, achieving that feat is absolutely crucial this time around.
Farke, with his Championship-winning experience with Norwich City, is under pressure to deliver promotion at the second time of asking, and his side are in a brilliant position to do so.
All three points would have delivered a little more comfort for the Whites, and with so much of the campaign remaining, every point counts.
The hope will be that two missed points will not haunt them in the future.
In other Leeds United news, an Elland Road insider believes a decision on Junior Firpo’s future has already been made.
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