Leeds United were played off the park in some respects by Norwich City at Elland Road yesterday. The visiting Canaries thoroughly deserved both the three points and the 3-1 victory.
In most sectors of the game, nay likely all sectors, United came off second-best to their Norfolk visitors. Defensively they were torn to pieces, their midfield crumbled and their potency up top was absent to a large degree.
It was a game that saw the top two in the Sky Bet Championship face off against each other. Norwich gained vengeance for the 3-0 loss inflicted upon them by a rampant Leeds United at Carrow Road earlier this season.
Leeds United were undone by a better side on the day, one whose tigerish nature and tireless closing down forced uncharacteristic errors from a usually consistent Leeds United side.
Yes they had opportunities, and yes there were decisions that went against them, but United cannot use these as excuses. Quite simply, they were second-best on the day and thoughts now turn to next weekend and Middlesbrough at The Riverside.
However, one point that is doing the rounds on social media is a bit of ‘afters’ involving Patrick Bamford and Canaries keeper Tim Krul (tweet-below).
Classy from Krul #lufc pic.twitter.com/yqdgihgVkV
— JLUFCN (@jlufcn) February 2, 2019
The video quite clearly shows Tim Krul advance towards Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford, push past two teammates, and confront the Leeds United striker. Not only that, he also pushes Bamford before leaning his head towards him and, at the very least, initiating some semblance of an attempt at a headbutt.
It is the sort of incident that makes it onto social media and has fans complaining. That’s certainly the case with this; here’s what some Leeds fans have had to say about the incident.
Leeds United fans react to Krul incident ‘afters’
Obvs… #footballleaguescorrupt
— were leeds arent we? (@leedsunited_nyc) February 2, 2019
Krul was lucky to get away with it at time but think he will be punished for this , silly
— Andy Marsh (@andysallwhite) February 3, 2019
He won’t.. #FootballLeaguesCorrupt
— Lee Newton 🏴🇬🇧👀 (@LeeNewton4) February 2, 2019
Points deduction, replay the match!!!!
— ian pepworth (@ianpep) February 2, 2019
Krul will possibly need councelling and victim support for that violent and thuggish unprovoked attack by Bamford!!
— qualitylufc (@glennlowe19) February 3, 2019
If this was a Leeds player it would be 3 match ban incoming
— Billy Gardiner (@BillyGardiner7) February 2, 2019
Should/Will the FA get involved
The question is, should the FA ask Krul for his ‘observations’ of the incident before calling for one of their independent commissions to ‘look into matters’? The answer to that question is, well, of course they should.
Yet, a further question is this – will they. The answer to that is up in the ether. They might do, equally they might not. Leeds Untied supporters are likely to go for the latter.
Even if the FA did instigate such proceedings as they find necessary, it’d likely end up the same as the Sergi Canos incident. Here a three-person committee couldn’t agree that a headbutt on Gjanni Alioski by the Brentford player was a.) actually a headbutt or b.) whether there’d been intent.
These supporters will be likely quick to tell you why – insisting there’s an agenda against Leeds and that the FA is corrupt.
