Paul Robinson felt that the Leeds captain was fortunate to stay on the pitch for an early challenge on Jack Grealish.
Paul Robinson suggested during Sky Sports’ half-time coverage of Leeds’ draw with Aston Villa (broadcast on 28/4 from 11:30) that Liam Cooper should have been sent off for the first-half challenge on Jack Grealish that saw the Whites captain booked.
Most of the drama took place in the second-half as Marcelo Bielsa’s played out a 1-1 draw with their promotion-chasing rivals. But the tension was rising throughout the first-half after a dreadful performance from referee Stuart Attwell.
One particular decision that infuriated the home fans saw Cooper booked for a foul on Grealish just inside the Leeds half. The centre-back won the ball but it was a robust challenge, and Robinson suggested that the defender was fortunate to stay on the pitch.
“There is a case for that to be a red,” he told Sky Sports. “By the letter of the law, nowadays, yes, he’s left the ground, he’s out of control and he’s taken his opponent out.
“I wouldn’t have been surprised [if he was sent off]. I could quite easily sit here and discuss why he’s been sent off instead of why he hasn’t. He’s lucky to stay on the pitch there. In the old days, it’s a great tackle.”
It would have been a huge blow for Leeds to lose Cooper at that stage of the game when the Whites desperately needed a good performance and ideally, a positive result after a nightmare Easter.
And while Robinson believes that the 27-year-old should have been sent off, it is unlikely that that decision would have gone down well with the supporters as it did appear to be a well-timed full-blooded challenge.
There were some aspects of the challenge that may have left Cooper slightly concerned when the whistle went – especially with Attwell looking determined to take centre-stage – but it would have been a big surprise if the skipper was shown a red rather than a yellow.
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