Brentford 5 Leeds United 2: Jesse Marsch sees red in Whites defensive horror show - YEP 3/9/22

Whites boss Jesse Marsch was sent off as shambolic defending and contentious refereeing decisions led to Leeds United being blitzed 5-2 at Saturday afternoon's Premier League hosts Brentford for whom Ivan Toney bagged a hat-trick.

By Lee Sobot

Brentford went ahead on the half hour mark as Toney clinically converted a penalty awarded for Luis Sinisterra's challenge on Toney as part of a double VAR check at a Bees corner.

VAR checked two possible Brentford penalty shouts from the same corner and Pascal Struijk was deemed not to have handballed as he had his hands by his side.

But VAR instructed referee Robert Jones to go and look at his monitor regarding Sinisterra's challenge on Toney who was taken out from behind and the man in the middle took several looks before returning to point to the spot.

Toney then sent Illan Meslier the wrong way by sending a fine spot kick into the right hand corner of the net and Toney beat Meslier again in spectacular fashion from another set piece 13 minutes later.

This time Robin Koch was judged to have fouled Shandon Baptiste on the edge of the box by Jones without the need for VAR and Toney sent a thunderbolt drive into the top right corner.

But Leeds then hit back just three minutes later as a Ben Mee deflection took the ball into the path of Luis Sinisterra who surged towards goal before producing a brilliant finish into the bottom left corner.

Patrick Bamford was brought on at the interval as Jack Harrison made way and Bamford and Gelhardt linked up well in a front two but Bamford flashed his best chance wide and Brentford then went 3-1 up in the 58th minute as Toney completed his hat-trick after awful Whites defending.

Llorente attempted to cut out a through ball and stepped up to clear but missed his attempted interception and the ball flew past Llorente and Koch to leave Toney clear.

Meslier then came flying out of his box and managed to clear but the ball only fell to Toney who then coolly worked space to shoot before converting a neat looped finish with Meslier stranded.

United's afternoon then went from bad to worse as head coach Marsch was sent off protesting the failure to award Leeds a penalty for a challenge on Crysencio Summerville who was sent tumbling in the box.

A furious Marsch argued with the fourth official, urging Jones to check his monitor but Jones only returned to send Marsch to the stands.

Leeds then hit back as Marc Roca converted an excellent cross from Luke Ayling who had returned from knee surgery from the bench.

But the Bees bagged their fourth just one minute later as Bryan Mbeumo latched on to another long ball and raced clear before slotting a cool finish past Meslier.

Mbeumo was flagged offside but replays showed that Koch had flicked the ball into his path through a header and more misery awaited Leeds in the 91st minute after shocking defending from Llorente.

The Spaniard looked to drag the ball back as he tried to play out from the back but substitute Yoane Wissa picked his pocket and then advanced on Meslier before slotting home to make it 5-2.