Leeds United legend Jermaine Beckford has delivered his verdict on the controversial decision to award Bournemouth the free-kick that led to the first goal of the game.
Anton Stach was deemed to have pushed Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie in the back on the edge of the Leeds box, handing Antoine Semenyo the chance to rifle home from 20 yards.
Leeds pulled level before half-time through a rare Joe Rodon goal and then took the lead thanks to a right-footed strike from the impressive Sean Longstaff.
Speaking exclusively to Leeds United News, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg backed referee Michael Oliver’s decision to award the free-kick to Bournemouth.
Now, Jermaine Beckford has also agreed with the call, instead questioning the position of Brenden Aaronson behind the wall.
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Jermaine Beckford agrees with Mark Clattenburg’s Leeds United verdict
Speaking to LUTV in the immediate aftermath of Leeds’ draw with the Cherries, Beckford backed Oliver’s call to award Bournemouth the free-kick that led to their opening goal.
According to Beckford, a “silly” piece of play by Leeds was then compounded by the positioning of Aaronson, who was placed behind the wall to prevent a low-struck free-kick.
Beckford said: “It starts with the initial foul on the edge of the 18-yard box from Stach. Christie does really, really well, just turns his body, makes sure that there’s contact, he initiates the contact, and the referee’s got no choice but to give it as a free kick.
“Silly on our part, but well played on Bournemouth’s part. Then you look at the free kick itself. Brenden Aaronson, I don’t think he’s in the right place, but that’s not on him.
“He’s lying down where he’s told to lie. If he lays an extra yard inside towards the middle of the goal, he stops the ball.”
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Karl Darlow has questions to answer after free-kick goal
Karl Darlow has been impressive since returning to Leeds’ starting line-up following the injury to Lucas Perri.
The former Newcastle man was outstanding in the games against Fulham and Wolves, producing several crucial saves and earning praise from the Leeds fanbase, several of whom wanted him to retain the number one shirt indefinitely.
However, Darlow will face questions over Bournemouth’s goal direct from a free-kick, as the Leeds keeper was caught out with a shot that crept under the wall.
Having asked Brenden Aaronson to lie down behind the wall, Darlow will be frustrated that Antoine Semenyo was still able to rifle his shot under the wall, past Aaronson, into the centre of the goal.
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