Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace was very animated on the sidelines during his team’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United on New Year’s Day, and he has finally revealed why.
Leeds came into the game fresh off a 1-0 win over Derby County, which put them first in the Championship league heading into 2025. But their game against Blackburn did not go quite as planned.
At times, John Eustace appeared as unhappy as the Elland Road crowd, which endured a gruelling 90 minutes of football against Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day.
Leeds were kept back by a dogged Blackburn Rovers until an 88th-minute penalty from Pascal Struijk broke the deadlock. However, the opposition side’s Danny Batth equalised just two minutes later.
Then, following Blackburn’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United, Rovers manager Eustace expressed his opinions about the penalty handed to Leeds late on, which he believes was very soft.
John Eustace fumes at referee after Blackburn Rovers draw against Leeds United.
Oliver Langford was the man in the middle during the encounter between Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers. As is often the case, the referee was at the focus of the dispute.
Leeds substitute Mateo Joseph was hauled down inside the box, resulting in a penalty that Struijk converted; however, Eustace believes his side would not have been granted the same penalty.
Following the game, Eustace told BBC reporter Adam Pope: “To come away with a draw from the league’s greatest team is really satisfying.
“We limited them to very few chances, with the exception of Pears’ late save. It was a light punishment. We would not have gotten it from the other end. “We deserved the equaliser.”
Why was John Eustace almost sent off against Leeds United?
Fans at Elland Road and at home noticed how agitated Eustace was on the sidelines, and we now know why: he vehemently disagreed with the penalty awarded to Leeds.
Soon after full-time, Pope explained why Eustace was almost sent off against Leeds. He wrote: “John Eustace is winding up the Leeds fans and has been told by the fourth official that he will be sent off if he continues. “The game has gotten away from the referee a little here.”
In the end, neither team deserved to win. Leeds dominated possession, but Blackburn maintained to their game strategy, which ultimately proved effective against Leeds.
Leeds and Farke must find a more effective approach to break down these deep-lying, tenacious Championship opponents, or they risk dropping out of the top two before May.
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