Jon Newsome says if Leeds United should have been awarded a penalty against Burnley

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Leeds United and Burnley played out a dismal 0-0 draw in the pouring rain in Lancashire on Monday night in a result that suits both sides in the race for automatic promotion.

Daniel Farke’s side remained top of the league after Sheffield United and Sunderland dropped points on the weekend. Leeds could have lost the match and remained top, while Burnley were still in third place.

Burnley needed to win the game more than Leeds if Scott Parker’s men are to go and secure automatic promotion. But it was a stalemate, only one shot on target and that came in the final few minutes.

Dan James crashing an effort at James Trafford’s goal, only for the former Manchester City goalkeeper to tip the ball over the bar. But Leeds could have had a penalty on other night, for a foul on Sam Byram.

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Jon Newsome shares if Byram should have had a penalty

Just before the 40th minute, James cut inside and played a gorgeous, outside-of-the-foot ball over the top in the path of an on-rushing Byram. But the defender was bumped into the ground in the box.

Jaidon Anthony the guilty party, as the former Leeds loanee struggled to keep up with Byram. There were some half-hearted appeals but referee Josh Smith said no penalty – and pundit Jon Newsome agrees.

Former Leeds defender Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds: “Just probably wasn’t enough in it was there. The referee wasn’t great and that was for both sides. He’s supposed to be highly rated.”

How does the Championship table look after full-time…

So, none of the top four sides secured a victory in round 29 of the Championship. Sheffield United lost 3-0 at home to Hull City while Sunderland were pegged back by Plymouth, Darko Gyabi notching an assist.

It is a third clean sheet in a row for Illan Meslier after his Hull City howler, and a good point that increases the lead on Sheffield United and Sunderland, while maintaining a three-point lead over Burnley in third.

Next up for Leeds is Cardiff City at Elland Road on Saturday, a game The Whites are fully expected to win. Not a win at Turf Moor, but a good point. You know what they say, win at home and don’t lose away.