Sunderland have been told they should have ended last night’s draw with Leeds United with only ten men.
Sunderland opted to play five at the back as they travelled to Elland Road last night, having beaten Leeds with a similar formation before Christmas.
Mike Dodds handed Timothee Pembele his full debut at right wing-back, while Callum Styles came back in on the opposite flank.
Meanwhile, Trai Hume joined Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard in central defence.
The Black Cats managed to pick up their fourth clean sheet in five games with a solid display on the road, though they were certainly lucky not to give away a penalty in each half.
Luke O’Nien’s handball was glaringly obvious but Sunderland got away with that one, while Dan Ballard also appeared to make contact with the ball from a Crysencio Summerville shot early on.
The 24-year-old had a lively first half that really frustrated the home support, having been booked for two stupid fouls after only 20 minutes.
Ballard also came close after an altercation with Patrick Bamford and took his total of fouls to four over the 90 minutes, while he also got away with the handball and could well have given a penalty up the other end if Leeds hadn’t been offside.
It was a chaotic game from the defender, but he also massively contributed to the visitors’ clean sheet, leaving Leeds’ supporters rattled that he remained on the pitch.
Leeds ‘should have come away with more’
The fans weren’t the only ones who thought Ballard should have been sent off though, with The Athletic journalist Nancy Froston in agreement.
She wrote: “Leeds could and should have come away with more from this game had refereeing decisions gone their way. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard was lucky to stay on the pitch after a series of fouls on Patrick Bamford.
“Then there was a first-half penalty shout for handball on Summerville’s deflected shot before the most egregious of all to those in Leeds white in the second half on Joe Rodon. It felt as if the referee could have taken his pick from the handball, shirt grab or flailing arm to the face to award a penalty when the Welshman rose to meet a corner, but Tim Robinson gave nothing.”
Did Dan Ballard prevent a win for Leeds United?
I was actually surprised that Mike Dodds didn’t choose to take Dan Ballard off, because while he was solid defensively in the second half, he looked like he was dying to get booked in the first.
It would have taken one more silly foul for him to be sent packing, which would have been disastrous for Sunderland’s chances in the next game.
He stayed on though and credit to him, he was brilliant after that. The centre-back made a whopping nine clearances, one block, two interceptions and one tackle, as well as winning three headers.
His fierceness in the early stages was certainly overshadowed by Luke O’Nien’s ‘handball’, though it is likely Tim Robinson that will be taking heavy criticism for his decision-making – especially if it costs Leeds the title.