Smith hails Brentford despite Leeds rallying
LEEDS UNITED 1 Jansson (88) BRENTFORD 1 Maupay (pen 62)
Brentford boss Dean Smith was proud of his players’ endeavour, despite them surrendering a late lead to draw away at high-flyers Leeds United. Pontus Jansson powered in a dramatic 88th-minute header from Ezgjan Alioski’s free-kick as Leeds earned a point, with the hosts having Luke Ayling dismissed late on. The equaliser from the Swedish centre-back was deserved for Marcelo Bielsa’s battling side, who had trailed from the spot through Neal Maupay’s 10th goal of the season just after the hour mark, following a foul on Ollie Watkins by home goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Bees manager Smith was satisfied, despite dropping two points late in the day. He said: “I thought we were very good in the first half. I can’t remember Leeds having too many opportunities. They had a couple in the second half as it became an end-to-end game and opened up a little bit. “I thought it was a penalty, he ( Watkins) has taken it past the keeper and he’s taken him out.” Brentford enjoyed the better of the early play in Yorkshire. Inside 12 minutes, PeacockFarrell was forced to smartly push Maupay’s drive around a post after the Leeds backline had been caught out. Leeds had openings of their own after growing into the game, Tyler Roberts seeing his effort saved by Luke Daniels, before Samuel Saiz struck just wide. Brentford took the lead after 62 minutes when Watkins was brought down by PeacockFarrell, with Maupay stepping up to roll his penalty into the bottom left corner. From then on, the side from the capital were under the cosh, with Cooper glancing just wide, before Daniels superbly denied Kalvin Phillips from close in. But, having knocked on the door, Leeds levelled when Jansson looped Alioski’s teasing free-kick over Daniels. United then had Ayling sent off in the 94th minute of a pulsating encounter in Yorkshire. Leeds boss Bielsa, speaking with the aid of his interpreter, was delighted with his team’s spirit to claim a point. He said: “I think it is a fair result. We could have won the game and we could have lost the game, but it wouldn’t be fair to say that we were close to winning the game as it was not the case.” Speaking about the performance of referee Jeremy Simpson, Bielsa added: “I never say that the referee is responsible for our performance. We are only in control of that.”