Stoke City midfielder Ben Pearson has admitted he had no complaints over the penalty decision in their 1-0 win over Leeds United on Wednesday.
Pearson was speaking to Stoke’s club media channel after the game, where he claimed he ‘clattered’ Patrick Bamford and left referee Paul Tierney with no choice but to point to the spot.
With the score at 0-0, Bamford was played in on goal by an excellent through ball from Georginio Rutter and managed to get his leg in between man and ball.
Pearson then brought Bamford down to hand him the opportunity to put Leeds ahead with 15 minutes to play, but unfortunately, he blazed his effort over the cross bar.
Stoke then went up the other end a matter of minutes later to go in front via a Pascal Struijk own goal to cap a miserable night for Leeds, who slipped even further behind the top two.
Pearson admits he clattered Bamford
Speaking after the game, Pearson spoke of how he had ‘no complaints’ over Tierney’s decision to award the penalty, criticising himself for a ‘rash’ challenge.
“No I’ve just made a mistake probably five seconds before and sort of trying to get back, you don’t want them to score so it’s a bit naive from me. Especially against an experienced player he probably dangles his leg and I clatter him. So I’ve got no complaints over the penalty, it was probably a bit rash from me.”
It was probably a lot easier for Pearson to come out after the game and own his mistake given the events that followed the penalty incident.
When not playing well, Leeds just cannot afford to be dropping points in situations like this and unfortunately, Bamford is once again the culprit after his two penalty misses last season.
In contrast to Leeds, when Leicester City have not been playing well, they have still picked up wins. Leeds have to start doing the same or their chances of automatic promotion will evaporate very quickly.
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