Before Leeds United faced off with Sunderland, fans were not happy about the Premier League’s announcement. Stuart Attwell was named as the referee for the game.
Fans fondly remember him for giving away a dubious penalty that handed the Black Cats a 1-0 win at Elland Road earlier this year. Everyone going into this game hoped Attwell would ref the game without controversy but he was in the middle of things once again.
The match itself between Leeds and Sunderland was neither team’s best performance this season; a lot of stoppages and lackluster football on display.
Both teams had enough chances to score but the players just could not find the finishing touches. It ended in a stalemate with Sunderland the happier of the two sides as they picked a point and ended their losing streak.
Leeds pundits rage over controversial Sunderland penalty call
Leeds United. Credit: IMAGO
Attwell was in middle of a huge decision on Sunday, with Leeds United on the receiving end.
Jayden Bogle raised a high foot and caught Sunderland defender Reinildo. It was a late challenge and the crowd wanted the defender sent off but Stuart Attwell decided to only flash a yellow card.
Later in the game, there were calls for a penalty when Dominic Calvert-Lewin went down under a challenge from Luke O’Nien.
The striker found himself between O’Nien and the keeper as he went after the ball. VAR checked but did not award the decision. On commentary, Jon Newsome and Adam Pope had strong words to say about the incident.
Jon Newsome: “That’s a penalty. He just dives into him. Incredible. Anywhere else on the pitch and that’s a foul.”
Adam Pope added: “The defender has just smashed into him. He bundles him over. I don’t get it at all.”
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Whites did not deserve to win on Sunday
Daniel Farke’s side getting a penalty in that game would have bailed them out after an awful performance.
Jaka Bijol pointed out after the game that the team must adopt a mentality to turn all these draws into wins.
Five wins from eight games this season is a lot. Against Sunderland, at no point in time were Leeds the superior side.
Farke has to go back to the drawing board and find a way to get this team firing again in the coming weeks.
Bijol is talking himself out of the team.