Liam Rosenior was not happy after full-time as Chelsea allowed a two-goal lead to slip against Leeds United on Tuesday night, and both Joe Hart and Joe Cole have discussed Leeds’ second goal.
On Tuesday night, Chelsea played host to Leeds at Stamford Bridge with Liam Rosenior’s side expected to win. Both Paul Merson and Chris Sutton had predicted home wins for Chelsea against in-form Leeds.
Rosenior was hoping to break a Premier League record as an English manager with five wins from his first five Premier League matches. Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer put Chelsea two goals to the good last night.
Anything you would change, Chelsea fans?🤔
Two points dropped against Leeds United…
Chelsea player ratings vs Leeds United
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Palmer played in Pedro for the first, before Pedro won the penalty that Palmer scored. But Leeds came roaring back, scoring goals through Lukas Nmecha and then substitute Noah Okafor, to make it 2-2.
Joe Hart and Joe Cole change minds on Leeds United goal
While there was no doubt for the penalty awarded to Leeds after Moises Caicedo’s trip on Jayden Bogle, there was controversy surrounding Leeds’ second. Replays show Jayden Bogle appeared to handle.
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole thought it was offside initially, before telling TNT Sports that having seen replays, it was a bit harder to give an outright decision. Hart, meanwhile, believes play had moved on.
Chelsea Training and Press Conference
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“We both said at the time, didn’t we Joe, that’s handball. But when we saw it in the replay, we thought maybe not. It’s one of them, thigh and then hand. They usually let that slide, don’t they,” Cole said.
Hart added: “He’s more directly involved when he hands it over, and Robert Sanchez nails someone. If that penalty was given, they would’ve gone back and the handball would have been relevant,” he said.
“But because it moved on another phase,” Hart continued, “Okafor knocked it in and it was another party coming in to it, I think the handball isn’t directly involved in the goal. Therefore, making it not handball.”
What Liam Rosenior said about Leeds United’s second goal
Despite admitting he had not watched replays, Rosenior was left angered in his post-match interview after being told that VAR ruled that Bogle’s handball was a “non-accidental handball”. The goal stood.
Chelsea fans – was Rosenior to blame, or was it the players? 😤
Chelsea failed to hold on to a 2-0 lead over Leeds.
But Rosenior is of the belief that any handball would prevent a goal, after VAR had checked it. Yet, Okafor’s goal stood and Leeds have climbed above Tottenham into 15th place in the Premier League.
Rosenior said: “The rule is the rule, from my understanding if there’s any handball in the lead up to a goal, it should be disallowed. So if they’ve said that, then someone explain the rules to me,” the gaffer said.
“Because they need to help the refs. You saying that has just got me angrier because that’s unacceptable if they’ve come with that judgement,” Rosenior continued, when discussing the goal to Olivia Buzaglo.
Rosenior can do little other than outline the negatives and tell his Chelsea squad how to nullify and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Next up for Rosenior is Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round, his old side.
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