Jesse Marsch could not watch final moments of Leeds United draw v Aston Villa – Phil Hay
Jesse Marsch lowered his head in the dying moments of the Leeds United draw against Aston Villa as he sat high in the stands, according to Phil Hay.
The American was serving his one-match touchline ban at Elland Road, sending messages to Mark Jackson as he had to yet again deal with a red card, this time to Luis Sinisterra.
Hay noticed that Marsch could not bring himself to watch in the final minutes, missing critical moments where Villa played the likes of Ollie Watkins into the box.
Writing in his latest piece for The Athletic, Hay shared what he noticed Marsch doing in the stands as the final whistle drew ever closer at Elland Road.
“Jesse Marsch watched him claim it and let his gaze fall to the press-box desk he was sitting at, breathing for a split second,” he wrote.
“By the time Aston Villa played Ollie Watkins into the same penalty area with their next attack, Marsch was not even looking at the pitch anymore, his head lowered and everything crossed.”
No Surprise.
The game was yet again made into another spectacle ruined by officiating, but Leeds can hold their heads up high that they stuck in there and took a point.
It could have been made even more nervous had Villa actually looked more threatening, but it was the Whites who maybe could have nicked it late on with little chance for Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich.
Marsch has had to calm himself down in recent weeks it appears, as he knows he is fighting a losing battle with officials, something he didn’t care to speak about after the game.
This was certainly a game that would have gotten out of hand in the past with a potential heavy defeat on the cards, but despite making a couple of strange substitutions, the point was secured and we move on.
The American will be back in business at Crystal Palace on the touchline, when there is no hiding behind your hands, as he looks to get us back on the winning track.
In other Leeds United news, this player could be first in the Elland Road boardroom as new contract talks may take centre stage