Mike Dean reacts to Leeds United incident live on Sky Sports v Coventry
Mike Dean has offered his verdict on the decision to not award Leeds United a penalty during the first half of their clash with Coventry City, admitting it was the right call.
Daniel Farke’s side headed into the break level at 0-0 with Mark Robins’ side at Elland Road on Saturday 16 December, as they looked to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sunderland last time out.
However, the Whites felt they should have been awarded a penalty early in the opening exchanges as Djed Spence’s cross appeared to bounce off a defender’s leg before hitting an arm only for their appeals to be waved away and Dean believed that referee Geoff Eltringham made the correct decision.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (16 December, 15:12) he said: “No it has come off of his heel and then onto his hand so no penalty for me so right decision.”
Missing the luck
There weren’t huge appeals from the Leeds United players or their supporters for the spot kick to be awarded with the general consensus appearing to be that the Whites would have been incredibly fortunate to have been awarded a penalty.
It was one of those decisions that may well have been given had Leeds been playing in the Premier League with VAR in action as the ball certainly did strike a hand, even if it was after making contact with the defender’s leg in the process.
If Leeds want to win automatic promotion back to the Premier League this season, they are going to need some of those moments of luck to go their way, but they cannot be reliant on referees making controversial decisions and need to start creating their own luck.
Despite dominating the possession during the first half of the clash at Elland Road, Farke’s side were unable to really fashion any cutting-edge chances and left the Coventry City backline fairly unchallenged for much of the opening 45 minutes.
With Ipsiwch dropping points against Norwich earlier on Saturday, the Whites have a chance to begin to close the gap to the top two in the division. They can’t let this opportunity pass them by and have to produce some better chances in the second half.
In other Leeds United news, Patrick Bamford has revealed the details of a message Kalvin Phillips sent him after new developments at Elland Road