Andy Hinchcliffe was left incredulous after Leeds United loanee Cody Drameh decided to have a shot on goal himself during stoppage-time at the end of Luton Town’s play-off semi-final win over Sunderland on Tuesday.
Hinchcliffe was speaking on Sky Sports (broadcast on 16/5; 21:53) just as Cody Drameh put his attempt wide when he had the opportunity to wrap up the game for the home side at Kenilworth Road.
Ultimately, Drameh’s miss would not have an impact as Luton held on to their 2-0 victory which gave them a 3-2 win on aggregate. But it certainly made the final minute a little more tense for the right-back.
Cody Drameh criticised in stoppage-time of Luton win
Sunderland went to throw the kitchen sink at a corner in the third of four minutes of stoppage-time. However, the ball managed to evade almost everyone in the box and head towards the far touchline.
Luton kept the ball in play and suddenly, were through, three on one. Drameh was in possession and Sunderland had no goalkeeper in the net.
The one Black Cats defender had little choice but to give Drameh a site of the goal, but also the option to play the ball to his left to one of his two teammates who were flying forward. Drameh chose to try and find the back of the net himself.
His weak attempt just rolled past the post. And there was a clear groan in the ground as everyone realised that Sunderland may still have time to find an equaliser.
Certainly, Hinchcliffe was incredibly critical of Drameh’s decision.
“Why is he not just travelling with the ball and squaring it? What on earth is he doing trying to score himself? This is unbelievable,” he told Sky Sports.
Thankfully for Drameh, there was to be no twist. Luton are off to Wembley where they will face either Middlesbrough or Coventry for a place in the Premier League.
It has been a remarkable season for the Hatters. And while he made the wrong choice in that moment, you would imagine that they would love to sign Drameh from Leeds if they do manage to secure promotion.