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Connor O'Neill

'He has to stay' - Pundit reacts to Derby's opening goal against Leeds United

Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham has criticised Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla for his part in Derby's opening goal at Elland Road.

The Whites were leading 1-0 in their Championship semi-final second-leg against the Rams, but a rush of blood from the former Real Madrid man handed Frank Lampard's side a route back into the game.

The stopper came rushing out of his area to deal with a long-ball over the top, but instead, Casilla took out his own centre-back Liam Cooper and presented Jack Marriott with a tap-in.

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And Higginbotham, speaking on commentary, was quick to criticise the keeper.

"It is a complete misunderstanding between Casilla and Cooper - and Marriott, with his first touch, gets Derby back in this game," the former defender said.

"Cooper has to deal with that and Casilla has to stay out of the way. Cooper has it under control.

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"In those situations Cooper is running back towards the ball, let him deal with it. If the goalkeeper drops off, Cooper has the opportunity to play it back to Casilla, but if he gets in his way, neither knows what the other one is doing.

"And I think Cooper is in that position to take control and Casilla gets in his way."

But fellow Sky pundit Liam Rosenior believes the goal came as a result of Derby changing their approach.

He said: “There was one before that and there was one after the goal where he has come out. That’s because Derby are playing more direct, they’re playing with two strikers up there and they’re asking questions of Leeds’ high line.

“All of a sudden, it gives different questions for Casilla to deal with, so all credit to Frank Lampard because they get that element of luck with the goal.”

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