Leeds United drew 1-1 with Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Leeds United’s chaotic game against Aston Villa has been discussed by almost everybody in the last 24 hours – and Stan Collymore has joined in.
The Whites knew they had to win by a huge margin to stand any slim chance of catching second-placed Sheffield United, but the game appeared to be heading towards a 0-0 draw.
However, all hell broke loose when Jonathan Kodjia went down injured. Tyler Roberts slowed down to seemingly knock the ball out of play, but instead played the ball forward for Mateusz Klich, and he smashed in the opening goal.
Villa players were incensed with the Leeds side for seemingly ‘tricking’ them into stopping playing only for the Whites to go and score, before Anwar El Ghazi was sent off in the ensuing scuffle for ‘striking’ Patrick Bamford – when no contact was made.
As if that wasn’t enough, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa then ordered his team to let Villa score, with Albert Adomah walking forward from the centre spot to equalise despite Pontus Jansson – seemingly unaware of the situation – attempting to stop him.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning Leeds now can’t catch Sheffield United, but the bizarre scenes at Elland Road have dominated the headlines.
Now, pundit and former Villa striker Collymore has taken to Twitter to give his view, suggesting that no player is required to put the ball out of play, blaming the referee rather than the Leeds players.
Collymore added that Bielsa’s actions were ‘commendable’, but was less complimentary of Leeds striker Bamford, offering a strong and sweary reaction to his play-acting.
“1. Referee not stopping play = woeful decision. But not ANY player’s responsibility to stop play regardless of whether opposition team did it previously. The whistle is the stop in the game. Nothing else.
2. Bielsa actions. Commendable.
3. Bamford. S*******e,” said Collymore.
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