Stephen Warnock says if Lukas Nmecha’s Leeds United goal against Aston Villa should have stood

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Former Leeds United defender Stephen Warnock has given his verdict on whether Lukas Nmecha’s goal should have stood against Aston Villa.

Daniel Farke made the controversial decision to leave summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench for the Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Farke backed Lukas Nmecha to lead the line against Villa, and he wasted no time in making his mark, as he scored the first goal of the game after just eight minutes.

However, there was no shortage of controversy surrounding the goal, as goalkeeper Emi Martinez appeared to have been impeded by Anton Stach in the build-up to the goal.

Now, Stephen Warnock has given his verdict on the goal, as Nmecha took his tally to three goals for the season.

Stephen Warnock backs decision to allow Lukas Nmecha’s Leeds United goal

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage of the game, Warnock backed the decision to allow the goal to stand after Sean Longstaff delivered a dangerous free kick into the box.

According to Warnock, Martinez should have done better to deal with the ball after it was crossed back into a dangerous area after the initial free-kick.

“Goalkeepers are a protected species,” Warnock said, “It is a big moment in the game. They needed an opportunity, Leeds.

“Villa don’t defend it convincingly at all, and Martinez doesn’t cover himself in glory at all.”

VAR eventually allowed the goal to stand, after checking for several potential violations, including an offside, a handball and a foul on Martinez.

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Lukas Nmecha justifies Daniel Farke’s show of faith

Leeds fans questioned Farke’s team selection ahead of the game, after he elected not to recall Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dan James or Willy Gnonto.

However, Nmecha showed his finishing ability in the game against Forest and quickly added another, having been named in the starting line-up.

Although Nmecha knew little about the goal, as the ball deflected off his foot from an attempted clearance, he was in the right place to profit from some fortune.

Overall, he was part of a first-half display that showed much more intensity than the performance in Nottingham, as Leeds took the game to Villa early on.