Leeds United picked up a clean sheet and a draw at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon as Daniel Farke’s side played out a bore draw against Norwich City, but they could have been given a penalty.
Farke made a couple of big decisions to his side ahead of the clash, choosing to drop Joel Piroe. Instead of bringing in Mateo Joseph, he moved Georginio Rutter up front and put Archie Gray into the 10 role.
A move that might have been inspired with Southampton’s ease to open up Leeds’ midfield last week. Gray’s presence as a 10 saw him play a bit of a box-to-box role, adding another body in the middle.
It was a dull game as both sides played out a nervy 0-0 stalemate, meaning all eyes turn to next week’s second leg at Elland Road. But Leeds could have easily won a penalty, after a challenge on Willy Gnonto.
After just six minutes, Gnonto cut inside from the right flank and had gone past Norwich winger Borja Sainz. The Norwich man then initiated contact outside the penalty area before tackling him inside the box.
Clear contact but referee Josh Smith waved play on and Scott Minto told TalkSPORT (Sunday, 12.49PM) that he feels Leds should have had a penalty for the challenge on Gnonto:
Scott Minto says Leeds should have had a penalty at Norwich
Replays show there is clear contact and Gnonto has gone past Sainz. A desperate lunge from the Spanish star to stop the Leeds man in full flight but ref Smith saw different, maybe Gnonto already going down.
Minto spoke during half-time and he believes that it was enough to award Leeds an early penalty. A goal that might have opened up the game and saw a few more risks taken, but instead it ended 0-0.
“I think they are [Leeds being right to feel aggrieved]. Even though they haven’t played particularly well here, in terms of that incident it started outside, but it went on inside at the end of that going down there.
“He had one, if not two arms, around him, and he went for the tackle, didn’t get the ball, definitely made contact. The question is whether there was enough contact for to go down. I think there probably was.”
Georginio Rutter struggles to make Leeds impression, again
Other talking points include that an out-of-form Rutter was perhaps given more license up top, a bit more freedom to allow him to play his way but it simply didn’t go the Frenchman’s way once again.
Excuse the pun but he seems to be in a bit of a rut at the moment, proven by his air shot after good work from Gnonto just before the penalty incident and Jon Newsome gave his verdict on Rutter’s display.
“I know he runs around and he tries his best but this today from Georginio Rutter… he’s got to learn what his role in the team is. He looks bewildered as to what he’s got to do,” Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds.
