There was plenty to moan about for Leeds United fans during the 2-2 draw against Swansea City on Saturday afternoon. As ever, it seems, the referee was one of those things.
The majority of fingers are point at Illan Meslier after Leeds United’s 2-2 draw against Swansea City, which allowed Sheffield United to move two points clear at the top of the Championship table and leave Daniel Farke’s Leeds in 2nd.
Meslier made a couple of blunders against Swansea to allow Alan Sheehan’s side to get back into the game twice, with fans furious at both the Frenchman and at Farke for having not dropped the 25-year-old already.
Elsewhere, Leeds United fans weren’t impressed with Manor Solomon who looked a bit leggy and jaded following his performances with Israel during the international break, with very few offering much in the way of positivity.
And as ever, there were some dubious refereeing decisions in the game. Ben Toner was the man in the middle and he made a potentially blatant error during the second half of the game.
Ben Toner hesitant to give Hannes Delcroix a second yellow vs Leeds United
Swansea City’s Hanes Delcroix kept on popping up against Leeds United. He seemed to be involved in every battle on the pitch and also in every 50/50, with the Belgian having picked up a yellow card shortly before the break, and then escaping a second yellow in the second half.
In the 72nd minute of the game, Delcroix went in late on Dan James. Journalist Graham Smyth noticed that Toner was thinking about pulling out a second yellow for Delcroix, only to keep his cards in his pockets in the end.
It was a decision that could’ve handed Leeds all three points with the game tied at 1-1 at that stage, albeit Leeds did eventually take the lead again through Wilfried Gnonto after 86 minutes, only to concede again in the 96th minute.
Ben Toner stats means it’s very bizarre Hannes Delcroix didn’t get a second yellow
When Toner was appointed for the Leeds United game against Swansea, it almost came as good news for Leeds who’ve had a string of games where referees have been very reluctant to card the opposition.
In four Leeds United games in March, three of which at Elland Road, there’d been no cards for the opposing team.
In the Championship, Toner averages more than five yellow cards every game, giving out six in the game between Leeds and Swansea including four for the Swans, but not that all important second yellow for Delcroix which would’ve changed the game entirely.
Whether it was a yellow or not remains up for debate. But the fact that Toner was clearly thinking about giving the Swans man a second yellow suggests an element of doubt.
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