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NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP 2012-13 |
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Leeds United 1 |
Barnsley FC 0 |
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Becchio 42 (pen) |
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Massive first half possession for the Reds away at Elland Road but a dodgy penalty decision resulted in a loss at arch Yorkshire rivals Leeds United. We were cheated of anything from a game where our play deserved everything!
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The first half penalty from Luciano Becchio gave the home side a slim and uncomfortable victory over there superior neighbours.
The Reds did everything bar finish, as we had 70% possession away from home, and the referee succumbed to Elland Road pressure to give away a penalty in a disgraceful manner. In effect the Reds were cheated out of anything from this game by one man who later held his hands up and said he made a mistake.
Darren Deadman awarded a penalty against Stephen Foster after the offence clearly took place well outside the area, and it came against almost total control from the Reds as we looked to carry on the brilliant recent record against our West Yorkshire neighbours.
Marlon Harewood came very close to getting the Reds on equal terms as his powerful shot brought out a spectacular save from ex-blade Paddy Kenny, and the home side held on for a very unlikely victory.
It was a dissapointing day for the Reds as we lost the record of not losing to Leeds since 1998.
During our opening spell of dominance, United could not handle the Reds and David Perkins and Jacob Mellis had good efforts on goal.
Then Leeds had an opportunity through Becchio as he headed wide following a good cross from El-Hadji Diouf.
The turning point of the game and wrong decision came just on half time, but furious protests from Barnsley players and fans alike were ignored and Becchio was given Leeds goal on a plate from the spot which he converted with a little chip into the middle.
Harewood hit a rasping effort later on, and he must have thought it was going in, only to see Kenny appear at full stretch to keep the home side in front.
Keith Hills comments on the game:
"[The referee] has got a major decision seriously wrong. That is unexplainable. When referees don't apologise when they have made a mistake it becomes a little bit disrespectful at times.
"I just wonder if the assessor has told the referee a major decision has decided the outcome of the game and he has got it wrong - not just wrong, seriously wrong. It wasn't marginal.
"Whose job will it affect? Whose opinion will it affect when they look at that league table and won't consider the performance? It will affect a lot of Barnsley supporters who couldn't make it today."
