Steven Gerrard has praised referee Stuart Attwell for his performance in Leeds United and Aston Villa’s goalless draw while hitting out at Jesse Marsch’s opinion on the visitors’ time-wasting.
The Sunday-afternoon clash at Elland Road was marred by the frequent whistling of Attwell, who would ultimately send off Luis Sinisterra and end both halves with booing from all sides of the stadium. While Marsch, banned for his most recent referee altercation, would not even comment on the man in the middle, Gerrard was effusive in his praise.
“He had a good game,” said Gerrard. “Is there anything he got wrong? That’s a good game. If referees don’t get anything wrong it’s a good game, so well done to Stuart.”
READ MORE: Jesse Marsch tears into referee bosses on Leeds United's Elland Road problem
Meanwhile, Marsch had earlier aired his frustrations with the stop-start nature of the game, the lack of active ball time and the constant disruption to proceedings brought about by time-wasting. Those thoughts were put to the Villa boss and he hit back.
“Was he happy with their time wasting when they went to 10? Works both ways. I'm not really interested in what Jesse thinks in his opinion,” he said.
“My priority’s Aston Villa and I'm in here to talk about our performance. We'll do what we need to do to get points and that won’t change.”
READ NEXT:
Leeds United winners and losers as Whites hold firm vs Aston Villa after Luis Sinisterra red
Leeds United player ratings as Koch and Cooper hold steady in Aston Villa draw ruined by referee
Leeds United 0-0 Aston Villa highlights: Hosts dig in for point following Luis Sinisterra red card
Leeds United supporters ask key Stuart Attwell question following Luis Sinisterra red card
Leeds United supporters praise Jesse Marsch substitutions during Aston Villa draw