Pundits pile in on Leeds’ Junior Firpo after he gave away penalty and was sent off in Newcastle draw
Pundits are piling on Leeds’ Junior Firpo after a disastrous performance that saw him concede a penalty before being sent off in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle, as Jermaine Jenas notes the defender’s “scorching time” and Gary McAllister criticizes his “desperate” decisions
Junior Firpo has been heavily criticized after conceding a penalty and being sent off for a second yellow card in Leeds’ draw against Newcastle.
The game finished 2–2 at Elland Road but could have been a home win after Sam Allardyce’s side missed a penalty and conceded two, both of which were scored by Callum Wilson.
Firpo in particular was fouled in the game, as his second-half handball within the area allowed Newcastle to take the lead.
He was then shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for a late challenge just outside the box, meaning the hosts had to survive the last seven minutes with just 10 men on the field.
Gary McAllister, who played nearly 300 games for Leeds and won the league with them in 1992, felt that Firpo’s handball was a result of the pressure the relegation-threatened team are under.
Junior Firpo had an afternoon to forget on Saturday in Leeds’ 2-2 draw against Newcastle
He gave away a penalty for handling the ball in the area and was sent off in stoppage time
“It’s inexplicable why he’s going so high with his hand,” he told BT Sport, “he’s putting himself in a terrible position, it’s a desperate and wrong decision.”
“It comes from being under pressure, the pressure to get results. They made bad decisions.’
Jermaine Jenas felt that Firpo’s poor performance was a result of the work he had received from the Newcastle forwards.
He said, “Isak and Bruno Guimaraes often met on that left side and gave Firpo a torrid time. In the end he was sent through.
“He was put under a lot of pressure from the first minute of that game, and that was almost the highlight.”
Joe Cole added that the defender looked ‘nervous and anxious’ throughout the game and felt there was ‘no reason why his arm’ should be as high as it was before the penalty incident.
Callum Wilson scored the penalty, his second of the game, as Leeds drew in a game they could have won
Both Gary McAllister (left) and Jermaine Jenas (right) felt that Firpo was struggling in the game
Leeds remain in the relegation zone after the draw, but have overtaken Leicester to 18th and are now just one point behind Everton.
Their last two games are against West Ham and Tottenham, neither of whom have much to play for.
As for Newcastle, excellent form through April was followed by one point from their first two games in May.
They will meet Brighton, Leicester and Newcastle in their last games and need six points to guarantee Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.