Friendly marred by horror tackle

Leeds pre-season friendly against Aston Villa was littered with petty fouls, blood and thunder tackles and two penalties, as Leeds lost out 1-0 at the Suncorp Stadium in Australia. Most notably, a horror tackle by John McGinn on 16 year old Archie Gray, which left the youngster in tears and having to be stretchered off.  Moments earlier Gray had lunged in on Villa’s Emi Buendia, which earned the midfielder a yellow card, yet replays showed he won the ball.

Jesse Marsch was animated on the side line, and rightly so. It looked horrendous, and if there had been VAR it would have certainly been a red card.  The game was full of late tackles, trips and shoving, and referee Adam Kersey looked increasingly out of his depth. He let too much go, and in the end it made him lose control as temperatures boiled over.  Patrick Bamford was left in a heap by Diego Carlos when a clear barge in the back whilst he was in the air sent him crashing down onto his back. Then the striker sought retribution by clearly taking the Villa defender out with a cynical challenge.

The referees loss of control, ruined what could have been a good game.

Leeds started well, applying early pressure and won consecutive corners, Harrison had a free kick sail over from the edge of the box. Bamford had a shot saved and Dan James should have put away the rebound but he sliced his shot wide from six yards.  Against the run of play Villa were awarded a penalty. Tyler Adams was judged to have handled the ball in the box when Phillipe Coutinho tried to flick it around the midfielder. Replays were inconclusive as it appeared to hit his chest.  Coutinho stepped up only for Meslier to pull a fantastic double save, the first with a strong hand and the second with his legs.

Moments later Ollie Watkins was through one on one with the keeper and he stood up strong and managed to push his effort over the bar with another strong arm.

The second half was much of the same, although both teams made masses of substitutions and looked disjointed.  Danny Ings, a second half substitute went close when his snap shot hit the side netting.  Harrison at the other end scuffing a shot when well placed.

Villa went ahead in the 63rd minute, again from the spot but this time Ings made no mistake as he slotted the ball into the right hand bottom corner of Meslier’s goal, after Leif Davis had handled in the box. Leo Hjelde went close late on when his cross-shot swerved towards goal and Olsen in the Villa net had to dive backwards to pull off a good save.  Ultimately Villa weathered the storm to earn the victory, Leeds first loss of pre-season.

Just short of 41 thousand watched the Premier League friendly, and for a neutral it was a good game. Leeds will now prepare for their next game against Crystal Palace on Friday at the Optus stadium, in Burswood, Australia at 11:05 UK time.

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