Daniel Farke and Leeds United will likely be satisfied to come away from Selhurst Park with a point after their 0–0 draw with Crystal Palace.
Leeds had a golden chance to take the lead in the first half when they were awarded a penalty inside the Palace box, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired his effort wide, missing the opportunity to score his 11th Premier League goal of the season.
Things went from bad to worse just before half-time when Gabriel Gudmundsson was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. Despite being down to ten men, Leeds managed to hold on in the second half and secure a hard-earned point.
Leeds somehow managed to keep it 0-0 until the final whistle and were the happier team to share the points with Palace, who were jeered by the home fans at the end.
Chris Sutton is unsure whether Gabriel Gudmundsson deserved the second yellow
The game came alive towards the end of the first half when Calvert-Lewin missed the penalty, and Gudmundsson committed the challenge that earned him the second yellow.
Daniel Farke was livid on the touchline, and his players deserve huge credit for battling an entire half with ten men and leaving with a point in their bag.
However, Sutton is unsure whether Gudmundsson’s challenge was worthy of receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time in the first half.
He conceded that it was a mistimed challenge, but insisted that the referee was too harsh to produce the second caution, which ended up in a sending off for the defender.
Sutton said on Sky Sports: “I’ve gotta say, I’m not sure about that, a little bit late, a mistimed challenge, I mean, was it that bad?
“I think he’s harshly treated there.”
This is a well-earned point for Leeds
Farke will likely look back at the missed penalty with frustration, as it could easily have secured three crucial points away from home. Even so, a draw still represents a very good result for Leeds.
Leeds were under real pressure in the second half after being reduced to ten men, and the Crystal Palace players were met with jeers from their own supporters at full-time as they left the pitch.
With Nottingham Forest also failing to win, Leeds end the gameweek still three points clear of West Ham, who sit 18th in the table.
If Leeds do manage to stay up this season, this could prove to be a hugely important point during a critical stage of the campaign for Farke and his players.
