Leeds 1-1 West Brom: Hosts fight back through Luke Ayling - Mail 18/8/23
Leeds 1-1 West Brom: Hosts fight back through Luke Ayling after Brandon Thomas-Asante seized the lead for the Baggies with a missed handball call at Elland Road
Brandon Thomas-Asante handled in the first goal as West Brom
went ahead
Leeds equalised through Luke Ayling to secure a point in
Championship clash
By ROSS HEPPENSTALL
Daniel Farke admitted the challenge of rebuilding Leeds
United is 'one hell of a task' on an emotionally-charged night at Elland Road.
Brandon Thomas-Asante struck a controversial opener in the
52nd minute when Jayson Molumby's shot deflected in off his hand – but with no
VAR in the Championship the goal stood.
Yet Daniel Farke's men – roared on by their vociferous crowd
– got the equaliser they deserved 18 minutes from time when the impressive Dan
James crossed from the left and captain Luke Ayling headed home at the far
post.
The celebrations came against a backdrop of anger in the
home stands with supporters voicing their disgust at Willy Gnonto as he looks
to jump ship from Elland Road.
The Italy striker has handed in a transfer request as he
bids to force through a move away – yet Leeds maintain he is not for sale after
rejecting a £25million bid from Everton.
Gnonto was nowhere to be seen and seems unlikely to play for
the club again while midfielder Tyler Adams is set for a switch to Bournemouth.
Winger Luis Sinisterra was also absent and is similarly
expected to leave with Farke, alarmingly, able to name only five outfield
players on a bench which included two goalkeepers.
Farke said afterwards: 'We need to strengthen the squad and
have spoken openly and with transparency about this.
'Yes, we definitely need a few more additions if we want to
be ambitious.
'It's a hell of a task – that's what I said on my first day
here – but I don't want any sympathy and I don't complain about the situation.
'From tomorrow I will concentrate on this topic (transfer
business).
'Until after the game, I didn't want to hear anything about
transfers. I didn't want to be distracted.'
Leeds went close in the 26th minute when midfielder Jamie
Shackleton's deflected shot rebounded off the inside of a post.
In the 51st minute, Jed Wallace's first-time effort was
tipped onto a post by Illan Meslier.
From the subsequent corner, the ball fell kindly to Molumby
and his low shot was deflected in by Thomas-Asante's hand.
Farke added: 'Normally I never comment on decisions by the
referee because after the game you cannot change anything.
'Even the guys from Sky told me it was handball but it was
offside as well.
'But there is no VAR in this league, so we have to accept
it.
'Football can be the cruellest and most unfair sport in the
world because they scored a goal which should have been ruled out.
'It was definitely a game where we should have got three
points.
'We're still unbeaten at home and, from a losing position,
we nearly turned the game around completely.'
After Ayling's leveller, chances came and went for both
sides but Albion boss Carlos Corberan said: 'It was a fair result.
'We knew that this summer would be a challenging one, but I
know the club is working hard to strengthen the squad.'
