‘Fortunate there’… BBC pundit says 23-year-old Leeds star was lucky to see out the 90 minutes on Friday
Jon Newsome suggested that Ethan Ampadu was probably fortunate to not be sent off for Leeds United in their win over Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night after the skipper made a risky challenge while already on a yellow card.
Ethan Ampadu was superb again as Leeds kept yet another clean sheet in the Championship promotion race. But, while Ampadu was outstanding, he was perhaps fortunate to see out the full 90 minutes at Hillsborough.
The Welshman was booked towards the end of the first-half after trying to stop Ike Ugbo. And he did not show any hesitation and continued to get stuck in as the full-time whistle loomed.
Ethan Ampadu lucky to not be sent off in Leeds win
In fact, some Sheffield Wednesday fans will have been annoyed that Sam Allison played advantage late on rather than stopping play after Ampadu committed a foul. The Owls were able to run at the Leeds penalty area and get a sight of goal. But with that, the referee was unable to bring the play back for a yellow card.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, Jon Newsome suggested that the 23-year-old was lucky to not be shown a second yellow.
“Ampadu’s a bit fortunate there,” he said.
“Although it’s a foul, the referee wasn’t going to stop it because Wednesday were in the ascendancy and that’s worked out for Ampadu. If he wasn’t already on a yellow, he’d get a yellow but the referee is thinking about if he wants to send someone off for that.”
Whites avoid disappointing end to really good evening
It would have been a real disappointment had Ampadu been sent off in those final minutes. He has been an ever-present for Daniel Farke’s side in the Championship this season. And he has formed a superb partnership with Joe Rodon.
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Leeds were still making sure that Wednesday could not set up a tense finish. Ampadu himself had to make one clearance off the goalline.
It did feel as though we got away with one, with the referee not sending Ampadu off. But the official will perhaps argue that Wednesday had a promising opportunity to attack. And if he felt that it was a challenge worthy of a second yellow, there would have been no opportunity to play advantage.
