Leeds United fans were beside themselves at Elland Road and on social media when Millwall man Jake Cooper clattered into Joe Rodon in the penalty area – and Dermot Gallagher gave his take.
Cooper had earlier been shown a yellow card – as had Willy Gnonto – for an incident near the corner flag. Gnonto perhaps harshly, given Cooper pulled Gnonto down onto the ground to make it look bad.
Leeds went on to win 2-0, with Gnonto having the last laugh as his storming goal set Leeds on their way to three points – and, first place in the Championship table. Dan James made it 2-0 on 79 minutes.
Leeds now sit top of the table with eight games to play, even though Leicester have a game in hand. Georginio Rutter gave his take on promotion – and Neil Harris said that Leeds deserved to win the game.
But it could have been 2-0 inside the first half. Cooper, on a yellow card, completely barges into Leeds man Rodon in the penalty area – looking like a stone wall penalty, possibly a second yellow for Cooper.
Dermot Gallagher says Leeds should have been awarded penalty
It did not affect the end result, but it left fans during and after the game bemused by the decision from referee Stephen Martin. A referee that also sent Joe Rodon off, during the 0-0 draw against Hull City.
Speaking on Ref Watch on Sky Sports on Monday morning, former Premier League referee Gallagher gave his verdict. He says he cannot understand how Martin missed the foul from Cooper on Sunday.
“I think it should be a penalty. He clatters into Rodon, he does get a touch on the ball, but I think that’s more by luck than judgement. I just can’t see how you can do that,” Gallagher said, earlier on Monday.
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