Jansson snatches draw before TV outburst

LEEDS’ defender Pontus Jansson accused the referee of “robbery” over Brentford’s controversial penalty.

Jansson scored a late equaliser at Elland Road but he was left fuming over the award of a penalty for the visitors.

Referee Jeremy Simpson pointed to the spot after Ollie Watkins went down in a tussle with Leeds keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

The home side were fuming as they felt Watkins was going to ground before he was challenged.

Busy Bee Neal Maupay managed to keep his cool to notch his 10th goal of the season as the Londoners looked set to inflict a back-to-back home defeat on Leeds.

But the Frenchman had to handle a torrent of abuse and then a shower of plastic bottles following the goal.

Jansson, who is likely to face FA action over his outburst, raged on TV after the match: “I feel pretty s*** to be fair.”

When asked to mind his language, he replied: “I don’t care. This is robbery by the ref.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa added: “We can’t play thinking the referee never makes a mistake.”

But he added: “I think it is a fair result. We could have won, we could have lost the game, but it wouldn’t be fair to say we were close to winning.”

Leeds’ fans might feel hard done by over the penalty decision, but Brentford showed why boss Dean Smith was considered for the Villa job as they put in another bright and high-tempo performance.

Smith said: “I’m disappointed at the result. We could have put the game to bed. We created so many chances and then gave away a cheap free kick which led to their equaliser.

“Still, we went toe to toe with the league leaders. Little old Brentford are now a top-ten team and I think people are recognising we are a force to be reckoned with.”

Smith described the trip by sub Said Benrahma that led to Leeds’ equaliser as “naive”.

With the game ticking down, Ezgjan Alioski took the resulting free kick and Jansson sent a looping header over keeper Luke Daniels.

A relieved Bielsa admitted that Jansson was “playing his best football – he is playing at a high level.” But the Argentinian coach admitted: “We started well and we finished well, but 30 minutes in the middle was the problem.”

Bielsa’s super-fit Leeds side forced the early pressure, but once Brentford settled, they showed the form that has sent them into the top six.

Maupay was always a danger. His first effort – a low and angled shot, set up by one-time Liverpool man Sergi Canos – flashed uncomfortably wide for Leeds. Then he hit a long-range blast that had keeper PeacockFarrell at full stretch, the ball going just wide again.

A Chris Mepham blockbuster was blocked and cleared, and Watkins had an effort deflected on to the woodwork.

For Leeds, their Polish international Mateusz Klich set up Tyler Roberts who shot just off target. Klich watched his own effort go wide, and then Samuel Saiz missed out trying to finalise a superb break.

Then came the penalty blow-up and the final leveller by Jansson. A high-octane game by two sides that mean to go places.