Bamford’s Penalty Enough To Earn Leeds 3 Points Against Burnley
Burnley manager Sean Dyche said the referee had a “massive impact” as his side narrowly lost to Leeds at Elland Road.
The 20-year-old Leeds goalkeeper was awarded a free-kick by referee Rob Jones, despite spilling the ball forward in what seemed like a fair aerial challenge with Ben Mee.
Dyche said Leeds would not have been awarded a penalty if the incident took place “in the middle of the pitch” and that it was “impossible” that there had been a foul in the build-up to Barnes’ disallowed goal.
“You can’t say it’s decisive because there’s more to the game than refereeing decisions but it’s a shame I have to stand here and try and stay calm about it,” Dyche told BBC Sport.
“Nick Pope got clear contact on the ball. VAR has been taking hours to make a decision but they don’t give it a few seconds to even look at it.”
On Burnley’s disallowed goal, Dyche added: “At the other end, the keeper goes through with his knee in Ben Mee’s back. Ben has got nothing other than eyes for the ball, that is all he is concentrating on.
“The ball drops and the referee doesn’t even give it a chance to see what happens, because it is not a foul, it’s impossible it can be a foul when he’s just tried to head the ball.
“Even in my day, if you put your knee in someone’s back like that when they are trying to head the ball, you’re not only giving a foul away, you’re going to get booked, and nowadays you’re probably in trouble.
“So I have no clue where the game is at physically at the moment.”
Leeds were the better side in the first half as they played with confidence despite their 6-2 defeat at Manchester United last Sunday, but the visitors improved after the interval as they went in search of an equaliser.
Their best opportunity fell to Barnes but the forward could only smash his volley straight at Meslier.
Victory for the hosts lifts them into 11th place in the Premier League, while Burnley remain 16th.
