Jermaine Beckford has told the Premier League’s coverage of Leeds United’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United that Robin Koch was to blame for Marcus Rashford’s header – a goal which allowed the home side back into the game.
Leeds came into the game without a manager having sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday. They immediately got the ball rolling, with Willy Gnonto opening the scoring. Then, straight after the restart, Crysencio Summerville netted a second.
His cross was deflected past David De Gea into the net to make it 2-0. Leeds looked in a brilliant position and in with a big chance of going on to secure three points. But, out of nothing, Rashford continued his superb scoring run of form.
He headed in, before Jadon Sancho came off the bench to make it 2-2. Leeds icon Beckford criticised Germany star Koch for his role in Manchester United’s first, criticising his positioning and not doing more to stop Rashford’s header.
“Disappointing [the way Leeds conceded Manchester United’s first goal]. Marcus Rashford is a not Weghorst-type player. He’s got a free run, jumping over the defender, Robin Koch,” Beckford said, in his post-match analysis.
“Just open your body up, have a look over your shoulder, when the ball is coming in. Where’s my attacker? Is he going to make a run? Get your body in front of him. He left himself a standing up. It is poor defending from my perspective.”
Leeds draw 2-2: Beckford says Koch to blame for Rashford header
It did seem that Rashford was the only player in the Leeds box to react to the cross into the penalty area. Koch was caught on his heels and as Beckford says, had no idea where Rashford was. The England striker got the run on Koch.
To be fair to Rashford, it was a superb header – right in the corner, past Illan Meslier. But Koch will be disappointed that he did not do more to stop Rashford’s run, and getting a clean header on the ball. It started the comeback, in the draw.
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