Leeds United were frustrated in the first half of their game against Preston North End on Saturday. Partly because of the performance, and partly because of referee John Busby.
Leeds United were looking to keep the heat on Championship leaders Sheffield United in their trip to Preston North End, facing a former Leeds and Blades boss in Paul Heckingbottom.
At the start of the day, 19 points separated the two teams in the Championship table, with Leeds starting in 2nd after their emphatic 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in midweek, compared to Preston in 14th.
Though it was Preston who went into half-time in front owing to a neatly-worked goal on the counter attack finished off by Brad Potts.
Shortly after the goal though, Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman flew into Leeds’ Jayden Bogle whilst already on a yellow, with Bogle returning to the Leeds United squad after missing the Boro win.
Referee John Busby kept his cards in his pockets. That was until Daniel Farke was deemed to be making too much of a protest on the sidelines, and Busby then booked Farke.
- READ MORE: Leeds United fans all in agreement over Junior Firpo’s future after latest Farke comments
Jobi McAnuff verdict on Ben Whiteman tackle for Preston vs Leeds United
Discussing the incident at half-time, Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff shared his verdict and suggested that Whiteman’s follow through wasn’t all that strong, hence why he stayed on the pitch.
But McAnuff did agree that Whiteman’s tackle on Bogle was at least a yellow card, which would’ve subsequently seen him sent off.
McAnuff said: “He gets the ball first, I don’t think there’s any denying that. But that follow through, I definitely didn’t think it was, at the time… It looked a little bit worse, possibly a red. But that is a yellow card.”
McAnuff later added: “I think what’s saved him in the end is maybe that contact wasn’t too strong. But having been on a booking already, to go flying in like that, he’s taken a huge, huge risk.”
- READ MORE: I was a bit part player for Leeds United until Marcelo Bielsa arrived, he made me feel ‘invincible’
Carlos Corberan has already rued a John Busby decision this season
Leeds fans, players, and Farke as well were fuming with Busby when he didn’t send off Whiteman in the first half of Saturday’s game.
But it’s not the first time this season that Busby has left a manager fuming, with former Leeds no.2 Carlos Corberan criticising a Busby refereeing decision.
Speaking after West Brom’ goalless draw with Blackburn in October, Baggies boss Corberan said his side should’ve had a penalty.
The Spaniard said of Busby’s decision: “A foul in the box, it’s a penalty. Because he was in the position and the defender makes a foul to avoid the finishing of Furlong.
“In these actions, the referee didn’t understand enough probably to issue a penalty. It has not been a penalty because the referee didn’t whistle. But live, it was an obvious one.”
Leeds next face Oxford United at Elland Road in a 3pm kick off next Saturday.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
