Blackburn Rovers produced an excellent display to see off the challenge of Leeds United on Saturday as John Eustace continued his run of consecutive wins over Whites boss Daniel Farke.
Going into the game, Eustace had beaten Farke twice since the German arrived at Leeds. Once with old club Birmingham City in August 2023, and then again as Blackburn manager at Elland Road in April 2024.
Farke will have known this, with both previous encounters finishing 1-0. But as fate would have it, Eustace watched his side secure another three points against Farke by the same scoreline as Todd Cantwell netted.
However, there were some contentious decisions throughout and one of those was whether Blackburn should have had a red card for a foul by Tyrhys Dolan on Junior Firpo, who won Blackburn’s penalty.
Dermot Gallagher says red would have been fair for Tyrhys Dolan
It was a nasty-looking challenge and the replays aren’t much better. Firpo was returning from a three-game suspension himself, retrospectively given after a headbutt on Millwall defender Danny McNamara.
He was caught on the side of the knee with studs raised. Referee Lewis Smith did spot it and is well-positioned, but chose to only given Dolan a yellow – but Gallagher thinks a red card would have been fair.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday morning (11.51AM, 02/12), Gallagher said that if Smith had shown a red card then Dolan would have not been able to complain much, but instead got a yellow.
“If he had been, I don’t think he could complain too much. I wonder if the referee thinks that he hasn’t gone in like that. Could easily be a red card. And if he had got a red card, couldn’t complain too much.”
Sue Smith agrees with Daniel Farke over Tyrhys Dolan decision
After the match, manager Farke said Dolan should have been shown a red card but of course, the German is biased. Gallagher’s view shows it was one of those that might be in between, a bit of an orange card.
Former Leeds women’s player Sue Smith was also in the studio on Sky Sports and she commented on the decision not to give Dolan a red card, after former Premier League manager Gallagher gave his verdict.
“I’m really surprised that he didn’t get a red card from that. And the position of the referee as well, you thought he could have seen that. It’s the way he dives in, he lunges in, he’s high. Intensity,” she said.
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