Here are your Leeds United headlines for the evening of Saturday, November 7.
Former referee criticises decision to disallow Leeds goal
The decision to disallow a Patrick Bamford goal in Leeds United's 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace has been questioned by Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett.
The striker scored his seventh of the season at Selhurst Park, but had already seen one effort chalked off after VAR intervened and deemed him in an offside position. The goal would have seen Leeds draw level at 1-1.
Many questioned the ruling after replays appeared to only show Bamford’s arm in an offside position, with the rest of his body behind the last man.
“Law 11 states that it’s offside if any part of head, feet, or body is nearer to the opponents goal than both the ball and the second last opposition player,” Hackett told Caught Offside .
“The hand/arm that looks to be ahead of the defenders is NOT a part of the body that can score. I have looked at this incident on several occasions and the decision is simply wrong.
“I would urge PGMOL to bin those lines and rely on skill sets of the officials to make the call.”
Bielsa confirms he made decision to leave Hernandez out
Pablo Hernandez is not injured and was simply left out of the squad by Marcelo Bielsa for today’s match against Crystal Palace.
"Pablo doesn't have any injury, just wasn't picked for this game," the Leeds manager told reporters after the game.
"I evaluate all of the platers for the upcoming game I didn't pick him for this game. The decision may seem strange, but I chose the 18 players who I feel are most apt for the game."
The 35-year-old, who scored 21 goals and registered 21 assists over the past two seasons in the Championship under Bielsa, reacted angrily to being substituted in Monday evening’s defeat to Leicester.
That prompted speculation as to the reason behind his absence at Selhurst Park, but Bielsa wouldn’t be drawn into speaking about that.
"I didn't pick Jenkins in the place of Pablo,” he added, when pressed on his reasoning behind the decision.
“And the response to your question I have already given. I reiterate; I pick the 18 players who I believe are in the best conditions for the upcoming game. You can qualify my decision as a wrong one, given the arguments as you have given."
Recent drop in form addressed by Bielsa
Leeds have taken just three points from the last 12 available since the last international break.
The past month has seen the Whites come away from Aston Villa with a 3-0 victory, but also suffer defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, and Crystal Palace.
Leeds dominated possession on all three occasions but were beaten by sides that sat back and looked to play on the counter.
“All the defeats are complicated,” Bielsa said in his post-match press conference when asked how the players will react to another defeat.
“When there’s two defeats in a row it increases how complex it is. And if in all games we concede four goals and only score one, it’s going to be a hard reality.”
Bielsa was then asked whether he believed he set the team up in the right away against Crystal Palace, having suggested that was an issue in the Leicester defeat.
“The performance in the last game was a performance which was not satisfactory,” he responded.
“It left a lot of space for criticism. This game has other characteristics, in the collective, in the individual, in all the aspects.”
