Steve Bruce hits out at VAR & "unacceptable" mistakes after 5-2 defeat at Leeds last night

by Charlie Bennett · Published 17 December 2020, 07:19

Steve Bruce blasted VAR following our 5-2 defeat away to Leeds last night - a game that saw Callum Wilson denied a clear-cut penalty while the scores were level at 1-1.

Leeds ultimately went on to dominate the game, scoring three times in the final 20 minutes via a mixture of awful defending and ruthless finishing, although it's a bitter pill to swallow when we were denied a blatant penalty at such a crucial stage of the game.

Speaking after the game, Bruce stated that the officials have missed a "clear penalty" - but admits it is "unacceptable" defending that's the lost us the game more than anything else.

Here's what he had to say:

“We brought in VAR if it's a clear and obvious mistake and the referee has missed it.

"I was all for VAR when they brought it in. I think if anybody looks at the challenge they'll understand it's a clear penalty.

“It's a big decision. You're asking someone sitting in a room wherever it is and the ref to get it right.

"They still might have gone on to beat us but it's a big moment, that's for sure.

“You could say the fifth we conceded a wonder goal or whatever you want to analyse it. But from our perspective it's bad goals and at this level you get punished.

"We've gifted them goals at the end which was unacceptable."

“We didn't show enough resilience, we didn’t defend well enough and we got punished for it in the last ten minutes.”

"I know Leeds caused us problems all evening but we showed a certain resilience and for me always looked a threat the other way.

"Unfortunately we've not defended well enough."