Mike Dean hits out incident live on Sky Sports in Leeds United win v Plymouth
Mike Dean has hit out over the controversial decision to not award Plymouth Argyle a penalty during their clash with Leeds United on Saturday 11 November.
Daniel Farke’s side headed into the international break with a hard-working 2-1 win over the Pilgrims thanks to goals from Dan James and Joel Piroe but could have seen their lead cut in half as Ethan Ampadu appeared to foul Bali Mumba in the box.
Josh Smith didn’t award the visitors a spot kick, but Dean was quick to disagree with the referee’s decision, suggesting having watched a replay that the Welshman had made contact with the Plymouth player, rather than the ball.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (11 November, 15:44) he said: “I agree, it looked at normal speed, as he’s played the ball he’s gone with his wrong foot.
“We’ve seen the replay from behind the goal, he doesn’t play the ball, it’s a penalty.”
Ride your luck
On a second watch, it does appear as though Ampadu does make contact with Mumba rather than the ball, but due to the angle of the challenge and the referee’s position, it isn’t clear that the Leeds United star did appear to commit a foul.
Over the course of the season Leeds will have much worse decisions go against them or for them and all in all the penalty call late in the second half was a completely reasonable call to make, even if upon reflection the officials may have got it wrong.
Ampadu can count himself lucky as the decision was made at a crucial time of the match and could well have proved costly had it been given, but what was positive from a Leeds perspective was the manner in which Farke’s side utilised their luck.
Especially, in the first half, the visitors didn’t pose much of an attacking threat whatsoever and the Whites piled on the pressure with each and every attack. In the future, however, players like Ampadu have to remain switched on defensively to not give the referee a decision to make, especially in the penalty area.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared an update on Joe Rodon’s contract amid speculation that Spurs want to recall the defender