Last night at Elland Road, Leeds United and Fulham fought out a keenly contested game that ended all square at the final whistle – both sides sharing the point from a 0-0 draw.
Fulham had easily the better of the opening 25-or-so minutes of the game. However, Leeds managed to find a hidden gear and began to ramp up the intensity, even more so in a second half that they seemed to control much more effectively.
Aside from the hard-fought point by both sides, there were other talking points. One was the legitimacy of Chris Wood’s seemingly legitimate goal that was disallowed for offside, much to the Kiwi striker’s chagrin.
Another talking point was the injury suffered to Fulham’s Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon, a tackle by Leeds’ young centre-back Conor Shaughnessy likely ending the Brazilian forward’s season with a hard, touchline tackle (video -below).
Connor Shaughnessy tackle on Lucas Piazon #LUFC pic.twitter.com/70UwIjZpAE
— #WALMOT (@WALM0T33) August 15, 2017
As the video shows quite clearly, there was no malicious intent from Leeds United defender Shaughnessy, the young centre-back clearly making contact with the ball after a measured sliding tackle from side-on.
Whilst the tackle itself has been largely accepted as strong but firmly within the laws of the game, there is more than a murmur coming from many fans about the tackle, with even Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic angered by the aftermath of the tackle – if not the tackle itself.
It has been widely carried in the media, and reported by the Evening Standard, that the Fulham boss’ concern stems from the comments he says come from one of the officials at the game. Expressing concern for his injured charge, Jokanovic said of the incident: “It’s not a question about complaining — it can be bad luck or a tackle outside of the normal — but I’m really disappointed with what I heard from one of the referees, who explained ‘this is English football’.”
Fan comments on the Lucas Piazon leg break
https://twitter.com/DavidGillespie7/status/897690103061073925
Was never a big Lucas Piazon fan, but sympathise about the leg break against Leeds
— Peter West – Bring your own booze! (@peterfwest) August 16, 2017
It's strong & committed. But no problem whatsoever with this challenge. Piazon unlucky. The Leeds lad had a very good game. #lufc https://t.co/rZuRDRuSOj
— Alan Biggs (@AlanBiggs1) August 15, 2017
Despite the glad wishes from some, such as those above, there is a darker side story that emerged – a story based around Leeds United fans apparently heckling the injured Piazon off the pitch side and down the tunnel.
I will accept that the tackle was fair – it was. Piazon then booed down the tunnel and home end chanted 'dirty dirty Leeds' – case closed.
— Fulhamish (@FulhamishPod) August 15, 2017
any Leeds or Reading fans taking pleasure in Piazon's injury need to take a long hard look at themselves. #ffc #readingfc #lufc
— Martin Fife (@martinfife) August 15, 2017
Broken fibula for piazon and he gets booed…Leeds ✊🏻💦
— Jimmy Dobson (@JDobson95) August 15, 2017
Piazon breaks leg, Leeds fans boo and scream angry gestures at him. Football is sometimes a vile vile place.
— Anthony B 🏁 (@Fulhamflutter) August 15, 2017
And then there’s always a certain group of ‘fans’ who do take any opportunity to take pleasure where it really isn’t due.
Piazon breaking his leg has made my year thank you Leeds #ffc
— Bentley (@CBentley1871) August 15, 2017
