Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Gary Rowett praises Leeds United but critical of half-time pressure on referee
Millwall boss Gary Rowett has backed Leeds United for promotion after his side squandered a 2-0 lead at Elland Road. Leeds fought back to win 3-2, going top of the Championship in the progress, despite trailing 2-0 at half-time.
However, Rowett also suggested that Leeds got lucky with a penalty decision in the second half, which he put down to pressure on referee Darren England.
As , Rowett suggested it was the fans who put the pressure on the official, although Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani had also tweeted his displeasure at the referee’s first-half display on Twitter.
“A disappointment but overall we were given a bit of a lesson today…I think Leeds were thoroughly deserved winners and probably by far the best side we’ve played.
“There was a little bit of pressure on him (the referee) at half-time. I won’t go into too much detail on that and the fans put him under pressure because that’s what they do here. It wasn’t any of the coaching or playing staff, put it that way.
“We do the same at home. It’s what it is. It was a difficult game to referee and in the first half we might’ve had our rub of the green. In the second half they certainly got the big decisions.”
TBR’s View
Rowett has every right to be disappointed with the referee’s display, but Leeds United do as well. Simply put, it was not his best day at the office.
Speechless ?…in two years I have seen a lot but the level shown tonight is not acceptable for a professional league. Time to improve, use technology support and prepare professionals fit to work at the top level of football
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri)
The inability to see Bartosz Bialkowski had saved Stuart Dallas’ first-half strike summed up the disappointing officiating.
Leeds United fans will, therefore, have very little sympathy for Rowett, a manager who has never truly been a favourite at Elland Road.
After the way Leeds United were robbed by poor officiating at The Den earlier this season, it seems any second-half favoritism toward the Whites has only redressed the balance.