SMITH BACKS WATKINS AS FANS LET FLY
Visiting boss rejects claims Ollie dived
BRENTFORD boss Dean Smith leapt to the defence of Ollie Watkins amid accusations the winger dived to win a penalty.
Played in by Neal Maupay with half an hour to play, Watkins slipped the ball goalwards before tumbling under the challenge of Leeds keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Replays, however, suggested the Bees’ man was already heading to earth and was only lightly brushed by the onrushing keeper.
As Elland Road bayed for blood, Maupay calmly dispatched his 10th goal of an increasingly prolific campaign – but the home side felt justice was done when Pontus Jansson headed home two minutes from time.
Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa went easy on referee Jeremy Simpson, who also sent off Luke Ayling in the 94th minute and was viciously heckled for much of the second half.
“When you have the possibility to look at the video and see for yourself, my opinion becomes unimportant,” said the Argentine, whose injury-hit side have now won just two of their last seven games.
“But, in football, we cannot think that referees will never make mistakes. When I analyse a game, I never say that the referee is responsible for our performance.”
Smith, though, was unequivocal when asked whether his player had conned the referee. “It was a penalty,” said the 47-year--
old. “He’s toed it passed the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper has taken him out. It’s not Ollie’s job to get out the way, is it?”
Certainly not in doubt is Brentford’s status as bona fide promotion contenders. However dubious their goal, the Bees were good value for a point and arguably the better side for the majority of an entertaining and high-quality contest.
Smith – heavily linked with the vacant manager’s job at Aston Villa – knew Leeds would press high and cover the miles. In response, he deployed the energetic midfield pairing of Nico Yennaris and Kamo Mokotjo to search, destroy and keep the ball.
It worked brilliantly, even if genuine chances were limited to a well-saved shot from Maupay and a Watkins effort deflected on to the bar. “The thing you have to do here, because they press so well, is pass accurately,” said Smith. “We did that, and I don’t remember Leeds having too many chances.
“We forced a very good team into a lot of mistakes and we should have made more of our opportunities.”
Even Bielsa was impressed. “It’s very difficult to play against Brentford,” he added. “Not because of their defence, though they do defend well. It’s how they use the ball.”
Few are more at ease on the ball than Maupay, whose cool penalty made him the first player in England to hit double figures for the season.
The Frenchman was almost hit by a lot more than that as his exuberant celebrations were met with a hail of missiles from the home fans. The FA may look closely at that. In truth, though, that was the end of Brentford’s purple patch. Leeds grew in influence with the addition of Adam Forshaw and gradually built a head of steam.
Samu Saiz saw a shot deflected wide. Luke Daniels made a fine double save from Kalvin Phillips, palming his close-range effort on to a post. Liam Cooper then powered a free header narrowly over the angle.
With Chris Mepham outstanding at the back, it seemed the visitors would hold out. But then Ezgjan Alioski swung in an undefendable free-kick and Jansson thumped a header beyond Daniels.
Had Baker done likewise moments later, Leeds might even have snatched it. But his effort drifted agonisingly wide and Ayling’s second yellow card ended Leeds’ revival.
“We could have won,” said Bielsa. “But it wouldn’t be fair to say that we were close to winning. That was not the case, so I think a draw is a fair result.”