Many Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media, after Kalvin Phillips took to Instagram to apologise for his red card challenge against Queens Park Rangers.
Phillips was issued a straight sending off in the 88th-minute of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, after referee Peter Bankes deemed the 24-year-old’s challenge on Geoff Cameron to be reckless and to have endangered the opposing player.
Our homegrown holding midfielder now faces a potential three-game ban, which will be Phillips’ second suspension of the Championship campaign, after missing December’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town having been shown his fifth yellow card of the term as we thrashed Middlesbrough 4-0 the week before.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds had been dominating the flow of the game in the second half at QPR as we strived for an equalising goal, but would see our record in London stretch to one win in 19 visits as we ended the match with ten men on the field.
Will we cope without Phillips?
Yes
No
Phillips has since apologised for what he described as a poorly timed tackle and suggested that his support of the Whites may have played a part.
“Sorry to the LUFC fans for my red card yesterday,” noted the 5 ft 10 star on Instagram. “It wasn’t intentional, but I timed the tackle badly.
“I’m a Leeds fan, as well as a player, so maybe a little frustration that we have all been feeling was shown, but that’s never an excuse.
“Beyond gutted to miss the next three games, and I will make sure I do everything I can during and after my ban to make this dream for all of us come true! We stick together and we march on!”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Phillips’ apology…
It’s done we move on MOT
— John paul jones (@Johnleeds77) January 19, 2020
Good on you to take ownership of the issue Kalvin.
Let’s hope the club invest wisely in the next few days to strengthen the squad, and your going up to the Premier League as a Leeds player.#MOT
— Stephen Lewis (@vegansmithsfan) January 19, 2020
Completely understand the frustration you showed yesterday not many players show their passion for the shirt 👊
— Barney (@barney___21) January 19, 2020
You get a red and Cameron still kicks off with the ref , this from the guy that’s already been booked 8 times this season , what did he want the ref to do give 2 red cards.
3 matches to come back all guns blazing and fighting ,well may be not fighting leave that for beradi 👊— julie taylor 💙💛 (@cheekytaylor79) January 19, 2020
No need to apologise mate. Things are said & done out of frustration as you see from us fans on here. Come back stronger we are gonna need you, We are all behind you and the team. #lufc
— Andy Pantling (@AndyPantling) January 19, 2020
No need to apologise. All part of the game but dust yourself down, come back and take your hometown team up MOT
— 🇬🇧Paul Brace 🇬🇧 (@paulbrace66) January 19, 2020
Respect for coming out and saying that. Still a long way to go in this league! #lufc
— Tommo (@LUFC1992) January 19, 2020
I did the same in my living room. Carpet burns and broken furniture. Not pretty
— Wards (@1wards) January 19, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club are claimed to be mulling over a bid to sign a towering £3million star this month.