Sheffield Wednesday 2 Leeds United 0: Charlie Taylor left bemused as referee steals the headlines

Charlie Taylor believes there are plenty of positives to take from Leeds United's derby defeat at Hillsborough.
Gary Hooper celebrates his second goal for Sheffield WednesdayGary Hooper celebrates his second goal for Sheffield Wednesday
Gary Hooper celebrates his second goal for Sheffield Wednesday

Two goals from Sheffield Wednesday’s Gary Hooper punished a Whites side who had enjoyed the better scoring chances in the first half but failed to find the net.

And even when United did finally get the ball in Wednesday’s goal, the effort was controversially ruled out.

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Referee Anthony Taylor allowed Leeds to take a free-kick, which was was bundled in by Liam Cooper, despite play having been halted as Wednesday were in the middle of making a substitution.

Charlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon HulmeCharlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon Hulme
Charlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon Hulme

Owls striker Fernando Forestieri – who left the ground on crutches wearing a leg brace – was still limping off the pitch towards the fourth official when referee Taylor resumed play.

After consulting his fellow match officials, Taylor realised his mistake and ordered the free-kick to be retaken.

Even then, United could have set-up a nervous last 10 minutes at 2-1, but Scott Wootton’s header was cleared off the line by Daniel Pudil.

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“Everything just seemed to be against us today,” rued Leeds defender Taylor.

Charlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon HulmeCharlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon Hulme
Charlie Taylor scores for Leeds but the goal is controversially dissallowed. PIC: Simon Hulme

“I know for a fact the ref blew his whistle to play the game, and I don’t know what he’s saying after that, but I’ve never seen that in football before. Surely once the whistle has gone that’s the game to be played.

“I don’t know what minute that was but that could have put them on edge and at 2-1 anything can happen.

“It’s completely different to 2-0 and that would have given us a good 15 minutes at least to try and get an equaliser and really put them on the back foot.”

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The controversy somewhat overshadowed what had gone before it in an entertaining Yorkshire derby.

Hooper could have put Wednesday ahead when he got goal-side of Giuseppe Bellusci, but headed over from Jack Hunt’s cross.

But Leeds should have been in front at half-time. Stuart Dallas evaded Sam Hutchinson’s challenge to break clear, only for goalkeeper Lewis Price to come to Wednesday’s rescue.

First the 31-year-old Welshman palmed away Dallas’s low shot, before blocking Souleymane Doukara when a goal looked a certainty.

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Lewis Cook also drilled an effort wide as the visitors finished the opening 45 minutes on top.

“It was a strange game really,” said 22-year-old Taylor. “We could have maybe said that it was our best performance of the season the way we knocked it about and if we would have come in 3-0 up at half-time I don’t think anyone would have been surprised.

“We dominated that much but I think the goals have knocked the stuffing out of us in the end and it was just unfortunate really.

“I think the difference was in both boxes, how we didn’t take our chances and they took theirs.”

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Wednesday broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart. Forestieri did well to keep the ball alive following a short corner, and when the ball was fizzed towards goal, Hooper was lurking to fire home.

Three minutes later and it was 2-0. Goalkeeper Marco Silvestri failed to hold Forestieri’s long-range strike and Hooper reacted quickest to poke home the loose ball.

Defeat leaves Leeds just five places above the relegation drop zone – and 13 points behind the top six – but Taylor has dismissed fears the Elland Road club could be dragged into trouble.

“I think the squad has got too much quality to be worrying about relegation and I don’t think that’s on anyone’s minds,” he said.

“But the play-offs is realistically a very tough ask now.

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“You never say never but obviously the last two games (defeats at Ipswich Town and Wednesday) have changed that with them being promotion candidates this season.

“Performance-wise we didn’t play well at Ipswich but I think to get so close to getting a point there was a bit disappointing.

“But today especially, I think a lot of people would say it’s our best performance and to come away 2-0 it’s really disappointing.

“But the lads will remain positive and just see what the next few games bring for us.”

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Wednesday had been forced to draft in third-choice goalkeeper Price after Joe Wildsmith – deputising for No 1 choice Keiren Westwood – was ruled out with a back injury.

“We don’t know the extent of the problem exactly, but Joe will probably be out for some weeks,” said Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal. “Westwood is very near to coming back, but he is not 100 per cent.”

Carvalhal added: “It was a Yorkshire derby, and Leeds were a tough team to play against.

“When I first came here the number one objective was to play football that was good to watch.”

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Owls midfielder Sam Hutchinson – who last week agreed a new two-and-a-half year contract at Hillsborough – said his side improved after the break.

“First half we didn’t play our normal game, but the second half we got two early goals and you saw what we were all about, comfortable on the ball,” Hutchinson said.

“In the last 10 minutes, obviously a derby, so we were under the cosh a little bit.”

And on his new deal, the former Chelsea youngster added: “It makes sense to stay here.

“I have played the most games I have ever played in my career here. I am happy, my family’s happy, and I love Sheffield Wednesday.”