Daniel Farke on Leeds United's late heartbreak and the man who was partly at fault for it
Daniel Farke admitted the manner of Leeds United's first defeat in eight games was "heartbreaking" and could not hide his goalkeeper Lucas Perri's part in it.
The Whites were ahead three times at Newcastle United, and were leading 3-2 at the end of regulation time, but ended up losing 4-3.
Farke was unhappy at the penalty which led to Bruno Guimaraes' equaliser, and admitted Perri should have done better with Harvey Barnes' winner, his second goal of the night.
"Heartbreaking," was Farke's verdict.
"Congratulations to Newcastle – big compliments, I would say, for both sides. (It was) a big advertisement also for the Premier League, a fantastic piece of football.
"Both sides have played this game in the manner this game should be played – very passionate, very emotional, very attacking-minded. It was fantastic to watch. Of course, also, there were a few mistakes on both sides.
"I have to say that I'm more than proud of the performance of my lads, the desire, the belief and the bravery that we showed against a side playing on a Champions League level.
"It was an excellent first half from us. We fully deserve to be ahead at half-time (through Brenden Aaronson's goal and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty).
"When I think about JJ (James Justin)'s header against the crossbar (at 3-2) the ball bumps on the line, and jumps out.
"Then, late heartfbreak from my lads in the 91st minute, a handball given. The referee was very happy to give the situation without a split-second wait and thinking about it.
"Of course, the whole crowd was asking for it and he was happy to give it really quickly."
The handball was awarded when Aaronson, scorer of two smart finishes, jumped to block a cross and handled it.
"For me, it's never in the sense (spirt) of the game to give a handball for such a situation," argued Farke. "Brenden has no intention to play the ball with the hand, no intention to make his body bigger, he's just hit by the ball from three yards."
There then followed nearly 13 minutes of stoppage-time played "like a basketball game" in the words of Farke.
In the 12th of them, Leeds failed to deal with a corner and Barnes produced a shot Farke felt the Brazilian goalkeeper ought to have kept out.
"It was savable, this situation.
"If you want to travel away from St. James Park with a proper result, then out of such a situation you shouldn't concede a goal.
"You need, in the last minute of the game, a save from your goalkeeper."
Anton Stach, Joe Rodon and Aaronson all came off with cramp, the latter pair in stoppage time.
"Right now, after we lost the game, I think perhaps I should have risked injury," Farke said of Stach. "I should have left him on.
"But I would take exactly the same decision again because he's such an important player for us. I can't risk to lose him for weeks or whatever.
"The same more or less also with Brenden. Also, Joe, if they are struggling with cramps."