‘I’m told’… Sky commentator shares why Millwall players were complaining at half-time of Leeds clash

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Sky Sports commentator Daniel Mann has shared what he was told was the reason behind some of the Millwall players complaining to the referee at half-time of their clash with Leeds United on Sunday.

It was certainly no surprise to see Stephen Martin escorted off the Elland Road pitch at half-time by some of the players after a pretty dreadful first-half display from the official.

Jake Cooper was definitely fortunate to remain on the field for the full 90 minutes. The centre-back was booked after an early clash with Willy Gnonto.

Millwall players unhappy with referee at half-time at Leeds

He then caught Georginio Rutter in the face in an incident off the ball. And he brought the same player down in the middle of the pitch. Of course, the most remarkable decision came when he somehow avoided giving away a penalty when he clattered into Joe Rodon inside the area.

Zian Flemming was booked for a nasty challenge on Archie Gray. And Junior Firpo also went into the book after leaping quite recklessly into a tackle.

But it was the referee’s decision to not punish Cooper further that infuriated the Leeds fans. Oddly however, it was Cooper and some of the Millwall players who were speaking to the referee at half-time. And they were clearly unhappy as they left the pitch.

At the start of the second-half (broadcast on Sky Sports; 17/3; 16:05), Daniel Mann shared what the visitors were unhappy about.

“You might have wondered, particularly if you were of a Leeds persuasion, what Millwall were complaining to the referee about as they came off at half-time. I’m told that they felt the challenge that Zian Flemming was booked for was almost an identical one to one Archie Gray made that was not punished in that manner,” he said.

Visitors should have been thanking the officials

Fortunately, the bizarre first-half decisions did not cost Leeds. Rodon was left with a black eye after the challenge from Cooper inside the penalty area. So the referee could have hardly had a better reminder of the blunder he made.

Goals in either half from Willy Gnonto and Daniel James got Leeds across the line. And it was amazing to see Millwall feel that they were hard done by at the break after such an awful display from the officials.