Match recap: Millwall 2 - 1 Leeds. Leeds lose after shocking refereeing decision leaves them with 10 men.

Leeds United suffered a 2-1 defeat at The Den against Millwall FC, where the story was a truly incompetent piece of refereeing from James Linington. With the game at 0-0 after just 14 minutes he sent off Gaetano Berardi for a foul and gave Millwall a penalty despite it being a blatant dive by Tom Bradshaw.

Jed Wallace smashed the penalty in to the top-left corner before Bradshaw himself doubled the lead just before half-time with a good finish from a Shane Ferguson cross. Ezgjan Alioski pulled a goal back for Leeds but despite having a lot of the ball with 10 men, Leeds couldn’t find an equaliser.

Mahlon Romeo had the opening chance of the match down the Leeds left following a missed interception, but Kiko Casilla made a good save with his feet at the near post. Leeds then had their first effort a couple of minutes later, with Stuart Dallas dragging a shot wide from 25 yards - before Dallas had another effort from distance, this time on the volley, which also went wide.

Leeds were then reduced to 10 men in the 14th minute after what can only be described as a shocking refereeing decision. Gaetano Berardi missed his header allowing Tom Bradshaw to get in behind him, then as Bradshaw cut across Berardi he threw himself to the floor. The referee gave a penalty and a red card for Berardi. Jed Wallace stepped up and fired the penalty into the top left corner to put Millwall 1-0 up.

Leeds were a bit panicky after the goal and Wallace was able to get another attempt away from distance. Leeds then switched into a back four of Dallas - White - Ayling - Alioski and started to look a bit more themselves.

Jack Harrison had a shout for penalty after turning Romeo in the box following a good pass from Stuart Dallas. It didn’t look a penalty but it looked far more like one than the one Berardi was sent off for.

The next big chance fell to Millwall, a corner (following a rare Ben White error playing out from the back) was swung in towards Shaun Williams who headed the ball wide of the left post.

Soon after, it was 2-0. Tom Bradshaw flicked home a Shane Ferguson cross from the left-side as Leeds failed to fully clear their lines for both a 2nd and 3rd phase following a corner. It was too easy from Leeds to allow the goal despite the good finish. Helder Costa should have done more to close Ferguson down.

Marcelo Bielsa brought on Barry Douglas for Helder Costa at half-time and after 20 seconds of the second half. Some good hold-up play from Patrick Bamford found Mateusz Klich, he played in Jack Harrison who was now on the right. who put in a great cross for Ezgjan Alioski (moved forward to the wing) to finish into an empty goal.

The game became a bit frenetic again after the goal and Jayson Mulumby was booked for a cynical foul on Jack Harrison. Luke Ayling picked up a yellow card too for a foul on Ben Thompson.

Leeds then produced a brilliant passing move, extra impressive with 10 men, heavily involving Douglas, Alioski and Ayling which found Eddie Nketiah (who had just replaced Bamford) in the box but his cross was blocked out for a corner having got to the byline.

Mateusz Klich put one over from 25 yards following another good Jack Harrison run, Harrison found Alioski who laid the ball to Klich on the edge of the box but the Poland international sliced his effort.

Leeds brought on Tyler Roberts for Kalvin Phillips and really went for it with 15 minutes to go and Tom Bradhsaw almost immediately got a chance for Millwall with Leeds stretched.

Leeds couldn’t get a chance, the final ball wasn’t there. Ben White gave a ball away in the Leeds box but Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s shot was weak.

In the end - Leeds never created another clear cut chance after they got back to 2-1 despite doing well with 10 men in the second half. Three points for Millwall, but the story is the blatant dive. I would expect Tom Bradshaw to receive a ban for “deceiving an official” in the next couple of days.