Sam Allardyce ‘angry’ at Max Wober as he defies week-long warning in Leeds United draw with Newcastle – Phil Hay
Max Wober’s rash challenge to concede the first of two penalties in the Leeds United draw with Newcastle has made Sam Allardyce “angry” after his warnings all week, Phil Hay reports.
The usually-dependable Austrian defender charged in to take out Alexander Isak after half an hour of the dramatic 2-2 at Elland Road on Saturday (13 May), just minutes after Patrick Bamford had missed from the spot at the other end.
Callum Wilson despatched his kick to bring about a huge swing in momentum, with the Whites only rescuing a late point after the Englishman had scored a second penalty in the second half, but the Leeds United boss is far from impressed at the style of defending that risked throwing the game away.
In his Sunday morning column for The Athletic Hay wrote: “Allardyce is angry about the first penalty. Angry that, despite warning all week, Max Wober went off his feet and brought down Isak.
“But other parts of the game are mission accomplished in comparison to what he wanted. Leeds had the first goal. Leeds kept their skin from being flayed. Leeds have their point.”
Rush of blood
Wober may have earned himself a few slips given how vital he has proven on the whole since his January arrival from Red Bull Salzburg, but his dip in form has come at the worst time.
So often the pick of the Leeds United defenders, he was anything but at Elland Road against the Magpies, and the needlessly reckless challenge to fell Isak was case in point.
His unfortunately-timed injury issues since the previous international break appear to have stalled an impressive adaptation to the Premier League, and with just two games left to save the season now Allardyce could use his best defender finding his feet again.
Rasmus Kristensen picked up the pieces, reversing the roles from previous fixtures, with a very strong showing at centre-back and the late equaliser, so if the two former Salzburg teammates can form a partnership in the middle it would be a major boost.
The point against Eddie Howe’s men kept the fight alive, but self-inflicted errors prevented what could have been a hugely-important win.
A missed penalty, two conceded, and a sending off, undid what good work the Whites produced and the manager will have been tearing his hair out at the mistakes that made an already difficult task that much harder.
In other Leeds United news, Richard Keys couldn’t believe the footage he was seeing of a decision may send the club down.