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Oliver Jones

Pundit highlights Julen Lopetegui's frustrations as verdict given on 'eventful' Leeds United win

Former Premier League defender Michael Dawson says he understands Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui's frustrations after their 4-2 loss to Leeds United but believes every VAR and referee decision was correct amid numerous complaints over the decisions made throughout the match.

Goals from Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Rodrigo capped off an excellent afternoon for the Whites which saw them jump five places in the Premier League table.

However, Javi Gracia's men's win was overshadowed by a riled up Wolves bench who made their anger with referee Michael Salisbury very clear throughout the match.

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"I thought it was very eventful, really good game of football" Dawson said on Soccer Saturday over the weekend. "It had absolutely everything; controversy, Julen Lopetegui is going to be so frustrated that he lost that game.

"Frustrations looked like they boiled over at the end, and after the first five or six minutes, Leeds started the game really, really well when Gnonto came into the team and caused Semedo two or three problems.

"The first goal came down that left-hand side as well, a nice cutback into the middle of the box for Jack Harrison and he fires it into the back of the net - but after that, it was one way traffic the other way until about 40 minutes in.

"Wolves should've taken their two big chances - but it was down to Leeds' defending, two huge blocks from Max Wober and a good save from Meslier and they [Wolves] went into the half 1-0 down."

Dawson then highlighted Leeds' next few goals, which he believes came against the run of play, and how Wolves' comeback was cut short by their red card.

"They made changes at halftime, and then suddenly they're 2-0 down. So Lopetegui makes more changes and then they start making more chances. It's another few good saves from Meslier and then it's against the run of play again.

"Javi Gracia matched Wolves up perfectly within a minute. Gnonto coming off, he's probably thinking 'Why am I being taken off? We're 2-0 up, I've played well here', but Rasmus Kristensen comes on and scores within 22 seconds.

"3-0, you think it's game over and wow, how wrong were we? What a final 30 minutes. Cunha sends a long ball over the top, Meslier diving-headers it away but this finish, it must be 35-40 yards out and it's a fantastic finish.

"Cunha gets his goal after 73 minutes, a deflection off Wober and I thought it'd be 3-3 soon. But Jonny gets a red card and that's the right decision, it's an awful challenge.

"I'm glad Luke Ayling is all right, because it really is an awful challenge. And that really just calmed everything down for Leeds. Finally, Summerville plays the pass, gets into Rodrigo and it's 4-2, game over."

Dawson also gave his views on the numerous calls made by VAR after Wolves players and staff continued to complain to the referee after the final whistle.

"Michael Salisbury does go over to the monitor, to VAR, but it's probably a free kick and he hasn't given it. And that just causes absolute chaos between the two benches.

"Nunes, the substitution, he gets a red card but Lopetegui will probably feel hard done by because there was another incident in the first half where he felt he should've had a penalty. It's not one for me, Junior Firpo on Semedo, I thought it was just a collision and it was the right decision.

"That Traore decision wasn't going to really change the game much either. They were into the 90th+7 minutes, and I believe he got the decisions right.

"The red card with Jonny was clear, the penalty shout wasn't a penalty and the one at the end just sent them over the edge. But what a game of football."

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