Dave Edwards criticises Leeds midfielder Samuel Saiz

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The Reading midfielder questioned the Leeds United star’s reaction as Jack Clarke lost the ball during the second-half at Elland Road.

Dave Edwards told Sky Sports’ live post-match coverage of Leeds’ Championship clash with Reading (27/11 from 19:00) that he did not like Samuel Saiz’s reaction when Jack Clarke lost the ball during a second-half counter attack at Elland Road.

The Whites were relying on a sensational penalty save from Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the final moments to secure a 1-0 win over the Royals that moves Marcelo Bielsa’s side up to second in the Championship.

It could have potentially been a lot more comfortable for Leeds. One particular opportunity for the home side came when one of the half-time substitutes Clarke led a break forward. But rather than play Saiz in, the young winger held onto the ball for too long and ended up giving away a foul.

The Spaniard could not hide his frustration towards Clarke once the free-kick was given. And while Edwards – who did not feature in the game – admitted that he could understand Saiz’s anger, he suggested that he was wrong to react in the manner he did.

“I think it’s a young player. You see how angry Saiz was. I wasn’t particularly happy with the way that he reacted,” he told Sky Sports.

“He’s a young lad, he just needs an arm around him there. But saying that, I think he really drew Chris Gunter into an awkward position and that really opened up the gap and he should’ve realised that earlier and played it. Once you take too many touches, then the moment’s gone and it ends up in a foul.”

In fairness to Saiz, Clarke had a couple of opportunities to slide the ball in and give the magician the chance to run through on goal. And when he finally seemed to get his head up, his teammate found himself in an offside position.

But Clarke will undoubtedly learn from the slight mistake. Like Saiz, the youngster was extremely positive when he came on at the break and caused plenty of problems for the visitors.

The 17-year-old stretched the play with his willingness to start his runs from the touchline. And while not everything came off for Clarke, he did put in some incredibly dangerous crosses.

And as he probably did not need Saiz’s reaction to know that he made the wrong call when running at Reading’s defence, it seems highly unlikely that the teenager will make a similar mistake the next time that he finds himself in that position.