Substitute Noah Okafor’s late winner gave Leeds a 1-0 home victory over Tottenham after Whites defender Jayden Bogle controversially escaped a first-half red card.
Leeds were deserved victors to earn their first win in six games as Spurs saw their three-game winning run ended – but were left fuming over the Bogle decision.
The Leeds right wing-back caught Mathys Tel on his Achilles, which was awarded a foul but not punished further by referee John Brooks.
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Should Jayden Bogle have seen red for his challenge against Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel? See what the Soccer Saturday panel have to say…
A four-minute VAR review then ensued, but Tony Harrington opted against an on-field review, with the challenge only deemed “reckless” as Tel was forced off injured as a result of it.
Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean believed Bogle’s tackle was “100 per cent a red”, with the incident coming just a week after Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a similar challenge in Spurs’ win over the Eagles.
Leeds took full advantage of the decision, eventually making the breakthrough in the 79th minute through Okafor, who scored just 97 seconds after coming on, combining with fellow substitute Harry Wilson.
Goalkeeper James Trafford denied Jan Paul van Hecke in stoppage time during a rare moment of threat from Spurs, who were described as “poor” by their former captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday.
The victory moves the home side above Spurs into eighth, while Roberto De Zerbi’s team drop to 10th, dampening hopes that they may have turned a corner.
De Zerbi was booked in the defeat at Leeds for his frustrations over a second-half caution given to Pedro Porro – a decision he called “incredible” – and will now serve a one-game touchline ban when Spurs return to action after the international break against Ipswich at home on November 21.
Farke: ‘Butterfly’ Bogle is ‘softest player’ in PL
Leeds boss Daniel Farke speaking to TNT Sports on Bogle’s red-card escape:
“I didn’t watch it back. I just know that Jayden Bogle never, out of any bad intention, does the foul.
“It looked a bit like an unlucky coming together – a very unlucky outcome that Mathys is injured right now. Wish him all the best.
“But I know Jadon Bogle – the last thing is that he is a nasty player.
“He’s normally probably the softest player in the whole league. I always call him my butterfly. Never out of bad intention, he’s there with the foul – that’s what I can guarantee.
“But of course, I hope that Mathys can recover pretty quickly.”
De Zerbi has ‘big confidence’ in officials despite Bogle call
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi speaking to TNT Sports on Bogle’s red-card escape:
“Pedro Porro was a normal tackle, a normal duel and was an incredible yellow card.
“The first situation of Mathys Tel I didn’t see, I can’t say nothing.”
On whether he would have liked an on-field review: “No, I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to watch the clip or not.
“There was the VAR, and if they didn’t take the right decision, I don’t know, but we have confidence.
“We have to keep our eyes on the performance where we can improve.”
The key moments from Elland Road
4: LEEDS WANT A PENALTY! Mateus Fernandes leans into a cross with his arm outstretched, but VAR backs the referee’s call of no penalty.
34: BOGLE BRINGS DOWN TEL! Mathys Tel goes down under Jayden Bogle’s tackle, which catches him on the Achilles, but no card is shown.
38: NO RED CARD! After a four-minute VAR check, no on-field review is recommended, and Bogle escapes any punishment.
43: TEL SUBBED! The Spurs attacker can’t continue after the challenge from Bogle.
50: LEEDS GO CLOSE! Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header at a corner is blocked from going in by Dominic Solanke, and the rebound is missed by Nico Elvedi.
53: TANAKA PUTS OVER! Clavert-Lewin sets up Ao Tanaka inside the box, but he lifts his effort over the bar.
75: KINSKY SAVES! The Tottenham goalkeeper wonderfully denies Sean Longstaff.
79: LEEDS GOAL! Noah Okafor makes the breakthrough as he latches
90+1: TRAFFORD SAVE! Jan Paul van Hecke heads towards the corner, but James Trafford dives to keep it out.
