LEEDS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Detail view of the Leeds United club badge on the corner flag prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on December 16, 2020 in Leeds, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images)
Lee Hendrie has raged over what Ben Pearson did in the Leeds United game against Stoke City on Tuesday (5 March).
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Tuesday (09:31pm), the pundit said it was an “absolutely ridiculous” decision from the 29-year-old as he was sent off for an off-the-ball foul on Welsh international Dan James at Elland Road.
He added that the English midfielder, who only came on as a second-half substitute, “absolutely destroyed” the Potters’ chances of getting something out of the game as the Whites secured a 1-0 victory.
“He’s just absolutely destroyed it for Stoke City,” said Hendrie. “He’s come on as a substitute. Honestly, the times I’ve seen him do things like this is just absolutely ridiculous.
“It’s off the ball. I’m not sure whether it might be a straight red, he certainly had a yellow card not long ago and then it was obviously a yellow that led to the red.
“But just absolutely unbelievable, just letting his teammates down, particularly when I just felt they were having a really good spell.”
Ben Pearson loves a red card against Leeds United
It’s no surprise to see Pearson handed a red card even though he didn’t come on until the 54th minute as that’s the third time he’s received his marching orders against Leeds in his career.
It was completely needless for the midfielder to take a swipe at James when the ball was nowhere near the pair at that moment in time.
With Stoke putting pressure on the Whites in pursuit of a late equaliser, that decision completely ruined their chances of coming away from Elland Road with a result.
There is no doubt that his Potters teammates will be absolutely furious with him, but it worked out in Daniel Farke’s side’s favour in the end.
While the result didn’t take them any closer to the top two, it ensured they stay in the running and are just two points behind second-place Ipswich Town in their pursuit of automatic promotion this season.
In other Leeds United news, footage has emerged of what one Whites star did in a controversial incident against Huddersfield.
