Why Leeds United star was 'lucky' not to see red vs Manchester United amid Fulham example
One Leeds United star has been deemed fortunate not to have been sent off against Man Utd on Sunday.
Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson was ‘lucky’ not to receive a straight red card just 19 minutes into Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United, according to Shay Given.
The Whites kept their unbeaten home start to the campaign going but had to come from a goal down. Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half finish in a game that had plenty of energy but lacked final third quality.
Gudmundsson was booked midway through the first-half of Sunday’s Elland Road stalemate after a challenge on Manchester United midfielder Andrey Santos. The left-back had his opponent penned in but attempting to get tight, accidentally stepped on his Achilles.
The painful challenge was deemed worthy of a booking by referee Darren England, who let plenty go during the feisty clash, but just 24 hours earlier a similar tackle saw red. Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon tried to trip Hull City’s Robinho Vaz but ended up raking his Achilles.
“I think we all agree it's a poor challenge from Sessegnon,” Given told Match of the Day. “I think he’s trying to trip him but gets it wrong and it goes down the back of the Achilles, so it’s a red card.
“This is today, Gudmundsson on Santos. I think this is even worse if I’m being honest and this is the early part of the first half as well.
“At this stage, obviously you go down to 10 men . He’s got time to stop and look at the ball, he’s nowhere near the ball and for me it’s a dangerous tackle. He was lucky not to get a red.”
One difference between the two outcomes is the on-field decision, with Chris Kavanagh brandishing the red card for Sessegnon at Fulham while England opted for a Gudmundsson booking. VAR reviewed the incident but deemed it not a clear and obvious error.
“I still don’t think he’s done that on purpose,” Dublin added of the Leeds defender. “I think he’s trying to put his foot down and got it wrong.
“I think him and Sessegnon have both got it wrong. It looks horrible, both down the Achilles and they both should have been reds.”