Leeds United boss Daniel Farke's blunt verdict on Newcastle United winner and penalty decision
Leeds United conceded two avoidable goals in added-time to lose 4-3 at St James' Park.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke felt Lucas Perri should have saved Newcastle United's 103rd-minute winner in a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat.
Leeds took the lead three times at St James' Park through a pair of Brenden Aaronson strikes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's penalty. For Aaronson it was three goals in two games while for Calvert-Lewin it was his eighth in nine. But each time Newcastle came back. Harvey Barnes got the first leveller, Joelinton the second and Bruno Guimarães the third, from the spot, in stoppage time.
The Whites had their chances to win it and earlier hit the bar through James Justin but suffered late heartbreak when Barnes' shot squirmed past Perri. It was a shot he should have saved according to Farke. That, missed chances and the referee's decision to award a 91st-minute penalty were moments the manager was left to rue.
"Many compliments for both sides, big advertisement for the Premier League, a fantastic piece of football," he said. "Both sides playing in the manner football should be played. I'm more than proud of my lads for their performance, desire and bravery against a side playing on Champions League level.
"Late heartbreak for my lads, 91st minute, a handball given. The referee was very happy to give this situation without a split second wait. It's tough. For me it's never in the sense of the game to give a handball for such a situation, no intention to play the ball or make his body bigger. The last 10 minutes was a bit like a basketball game, both sides went for it and if it's not a draw one side was unlucky and will be accused they could be smarter. We lost so of course we can speak about calming the game down a bit smarter. But there was also a saveable situation. If you want to travel away with a point, if he touches it it's to save it.
"We know we could have reacted a bit quicker on the throw. Sometimes a cross in but we know that normally if you touch a ball - it was not a strong strike, you should save this ball. It was more than enough to travel away with one point."
Daniel Farke on Leeds United substitutions and Lucas Perri
Farke refused to be drawn on where he stands on Perri's place in the team having criticised the goalkeeper's role in pivotal goals in consecutive games. And on his own substitutions, he said he would make the same decisions again. Farke left it late to make his final three subs, withdrawing the limping Joe Rodon and Aaronson in stoppage time along with Ilia Gruev. Anton Stach and Calvert-Lewin had come off earlier.
"If I would have to ask myself some critical questions then I shouldn't have subbed them because we conceded after I substituted them," he said. "I think they were excellent. Brenden what a performance, Joe a rock in the defence. Stach was excellent again, had some cramp. He's played each and every minute in big games. I left them as long as possible and had to take them off. Thinking after the game I should have maybe left him [Stach] on. But I would take that decision again. I can't risk to lose him for weeks. Same with Brenden and Joe."
Farke admitted that players were running out of energy having emptied the tanks against Liverpool and Manchester United, but believes that level of physical output and intensity is simply necessary to make up the difference in quality to established Premier League sides. And after another Herculean effort failed to extend their unbeaten run, Farke said he would ensure his players took heart from their performance.
"Today no words will help, everyone is disappointed and heartbroken," he said. "If such an unbeaten run comes to an end I prefer it this way, going down with flying flags. We take many positives. They know if JJ scores we probably would have won this game."