Here are your Leeds United evening headlines on Monday, March 13.
'Right call' made over Jack Harrison goal against Brighton
Former Premier League referees Mark Halsey and Dermot Gallagher have backed Paul Tierney in allowing Jack Harrison's goal against Brighton to stand after the visitors complained about a second ball entering the field of play.
Harrison's sublime curled effort over Jason Steele and into the far corner of the net saw Leeds and Brighton share a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Elland Road. Quick thinking from Wilfried Gnonto saw him pick out his teammate from a short corner in yards of space as he calmly guided his finish over the Seagulls shot-stopper.
READ MORE: Patrick Bamford bullish over Leeds United survival hopes as he opens up on 'calm' Javi Gracia
Yet there were some protests in the immediate aftermath, with the likes of Solly March and Roberto De Zerbi questioning the legitimacy of the goal. This was due to the fact that Gnonto had pushed a second ball off the pitch shortly after taking the corner, yet Halsey believes that Tierney made the correct decision in allowing the goal to stand.
"Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele complained that there were two balls on the pitch before Jack Harrison's equaliser for Leeds," Halsey told the Sun (via SussexLive). "But referee Paul Tierney made the right call to allow Harrison's leveller to stand. Wilfred Gnonto took a short corner to goal scorer Harrison but a second ball was thrown momentarily on the pitch.
"Law 5: Outside interference states that play should only be stopped if the second ball interferes with play and prevents a defending player from playing the ball. In this case, the second ball doesn't have an impact on play."
Halsey's verdict also aligned with one of his former colleagues Gallagher, who discussed the goal on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch/
"It was applied correctly, because does it interfere with play or does it cause a problem to the players? The answer is no. You see Gnonto take the corner to Harrison and he immediately gets rid of the ball. Brighton don't have anybody that is in that area and doesn't interfere with them.
"It doesn't impact on that because they are set up [for the corner] so the referee plays on. If it had been knocked into the six-yard box, then without a doubt the referee would have stopped it. Then it becomes an interference to the players and a distraction to the goalkeeper."
Leeds United injury list in full as Javi Gracia's options boosted in time for key run of games
Javi Gracia is nearing a full-strength Leeds United squad ahead of an important run of games. The Whites take on Wolves next weekend, buoyed by the return of Patrick Bamford, Luis Sinisterra and Rodrigo last time out in the draw with Brighton.
The result saw Leeds slide into the relegation zone with results going against them, but the return of three key players will only improve their chances of survival. Rodrigo made his first appearance since injuring his ankle in January when he emerged from the bench to replace Patrick Bamford during the Whites' 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday.
Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas remain two long-term injury headaches for Gracia, while the new Whites boss has given very little away in terms of Liam Cooper's comeback. With that in mind, we have looked at the squad's current injury list ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash with Wolves.
Jack Harrison hailed for 'key' role he played in Leeds United's draw vs Brighton
Kris Boyd says Jack Harrison was 'key' in helping Leeds United earn a 2-2 draw against Brighton at Elland Road on Saturday.
Harrison headed into the game in poor form, and had not scored a league goal since Leeds' 3-0 victory over Chelsea in August last year.
But he set-up Patrick Bamford to level the scoring just before the break, and then popped up with a late equaliser himself. He was also responsible for a bizarre own goal on the hour-mark, but Boyd was impressed how Harrison made up for his error.
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