Leeds United must improve their defensive decision making to stop giving away penalties, if they are to survive in the Premier League this season. The Whites twice conceded spot-kicks in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United as they went 2-1 down before Rasmus Kristensen's equaliser earned the home side a point.
Head coach Sam Allardyce bemoaned the fact they have now given away three penalties in his two games in charge, and former Leeds United star Gary McAllister feels it was 'rash' decisions which caused the problems. Max Wober was guilty of an unecessary challenge on Alexander Isak for the first, while Junior Firpo inexplicably handballed to allow Callum Wilson to score his second.
But while McAllister says it's the pressure of the Leeds' situation which can lead to wrong choices, he was impressed that they didn't cave in once they went behind - and went down to 10 men following Firpo's red card.
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"I would say the decision-making of the two players that gave the penalties away were rash, and that comes from being under pressure," McAllister said. "The pressure of having to get a result, they’ve made bad decisions.
"Wober on the first one goes and swipes his left foot, no need, just stay on your feet. Then, Firpo on the second one, it’s just unexplainable why he goes so high with his hands.
"He gets himself in a bad position and it’s just desperate. You make the wrong decision, but Sam’s happy with the way the team responded. Nobody just went under. They could have easily won that.
"I watched them recently when things have gone against them, decisions have gone against them and the team has folded, the fans have folded and it’s been five and sixes. Today, I didn’t see that. They stayed in the game, they kept going and I think they deserved a draw."
Leeds could have gone two-goals ahead, of course, had Patrick Bamford taken his own opportunity from the penalty spot after Firpo had been fouled by Joelinton. However, Nick Pope saved his effort the clawed the rebound away - with BT pundit Joe Cole feeling it was a good height for the Newcastle keeper.
"Patrick Bamford, the number nine, picks the ball up and it’s a bad penalty," Cole added. "He’s gone a good height for the goalkeeper, it’s a good save from Nick Pope, and it’s just one of them you think the air has just come out of this stadium then.
"At 2-0 this place would have been rocking and they would have gone on to win this game, so they did make it difficult for themselves. But, I think there’s enough to be positive about for the Leeds fans down there."
Leeds now face West Ham away next Sunday before ending the campaign at Elland Road against Tottenham.
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