Sam Allardyce has quipped that he needed to take a couple of Valium after Leeds United's topsy turvy game against Newcastle United to 'calm' him down.
Saturday's eventful 2-2 draw at Elland Road featured three penalties, a red card and a whopping 30 fouls all told in Allardyce's first home game in interim charge. It was Leeds captain Luke Ayling who got the ball rolling with a seventh-minute opener before Patrick Bamford missed the chance to double his side's advantage from the spot before the half-hour mark.
Callum Wilson scored a penalty just a few minutes later to swing the momentum of the game before the break. Allardyce, recognising that, and Joelinton having 'far too much ball', threw on midfielder Adam Forshaw at the break and tweaked systems to 'push up' Weston McKennie on the Brazilian.
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However, Newcastle eventually took the lead in the 69th minute, when Wilson converted yet another spot-kick, only for Rasmus Kristensen to equalise late on with a deflected effort. There was still time for Junior Firpo to get sent off in stoppage time, but Allardyce's team held onto a point to keep their survival hopes alive. It was an afternoon that certainly put Allardyce through the ringer against his former side.
"I needed two Valium when I came off to calm me down," the 68-year-old told reporters. "Enjoyed it actually. I did.
"I was nervous before the game because we were playing at home and I wanted to give the fans something, but what the lads did for me, the rest of the backroom staff, the fans and themselves gave me some hope about us going forward. They tried their very best and I can't ask for any more than that."
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