The referee who will take charge of Leeds United’s game against Chelsea once enraged the Elland Road crowd and former Sporting Director Victor Orta.
Daniel Farke will be hoping he can carry some momentum into Leeds’ game against Chelsea, after his changes helped lift his side in their heartbreaking defeat against Manchester City.
The Leeds boss has several selection headaches heading into the game, with James Justin picking up a knock against Man City. Welsh winger Dan James also faces a period on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring at the Etihad.
Darren England will take charge of the game at Elland Road, as Farke looks to turn a promising performance into points to lift his side up the Premier League table.
However, the referee has previously angered the Leeds crowd when he took charge of a contentious five-goal thriller in 2020.
Prediction time for Leeds United v Chelsea
Daniel Farke and Enzo Maresca.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Darren England angered Leeds United in five-goal thriller
Leeds were enduring a mid-season wobble under Marcelo Bielsa in January 2020, when Millwall arrived at Elland Road in a must-win game for the Whites.
Although Leeds would go on to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory, the first half was dominated by England and his fellow match officials, as a sequence of controversial decisions went against Leeds.
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Millwall took an early lead, before an early contentious call went against Leeds, as Millwall’s goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski clearly tipped a Stuart Dallas shot around the post, only for the officials to award a goal-kick to the visitors.
Things got worse minutes later, when the officials missed the ball going out of play on the left touchline, allowing play to continue before awarding Millwall a penalty within a matter of seconds, which Jed Wallace tucked away to make the score 2-0.
Darren England infuriated the Leeds crowd in a five-goal thriller v Millwall in 2020 😡😤
The referee will take charge of Leeds' Premier League game against Chelsea
These decisions prompted Victor Orta to angrily confront the referee in the tunnel at half-time, earning an FA charge of bad language and/or behaviour, according to Sky Sports, as the Elland Road crowd bayed for blood.
Patrick Bamford saved the day for Leeds United with second-half brace
Despite the succession of first-half decisions that went against Leeds, Bielsa’s side had the last laugh as they mounted a famous second-half comeback.
Patrick Bamford had been criticised in the build-up to the game, but he got the ball rolling for Leeds as he poked home from close range to give Leeds a lifeline.
Patrick Bamford scores for Leeds United v Millwall
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Pablo Hernandez pulled Leeds level, sending a trademark right-footed volley into the bottom corner as the Whites built up a head of steam.
Bamford completed the victory with a diving header, covering his ears in front of the Kop as they went wild behind him. The win ultimately proved crucial, as Leeds went on to secure their return to the top flight.
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