Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce rued a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United despite a late leveller — and said he had told his players to “stay on their feet”.
In an intense game at Elland Road that featured three penalties and a red card, Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen’s 79th-minute equaliser rescued a point for the home side.
Callum Wilson successfully dispatched twice from the penalty spot for the visitors — after Patrick Bamford missed a spot-kick of his own following Luke Ayling’s early opener.
Leeds remain in the relegation zone and Allardyce said he would “tell off” his players for “ignoring” his pre-match advice.
He said: “I am glad to say that I am disappointed that it is only a draw because it could have easily been a win for us.
“It is our fault that we haven’t won it today.
“We have to stop giving penalties away because we gave one away last week (against Manchester City) and I have been talking about staying on your feet all week and I don’t like it when they ignore me. So they will get told off for that, believe me.
“Had we stayed on our feet today I think we might have won this game.”
Leeds stay in the relegation zone — a point behind Everton, who host Manchester City tomorrow — but Allardyce was pleased with his side’s performance apart from their tendency to give away costly penalties.
The 68-year-old said: “We didn’t get dispirited, despite the fact that we made life extremely difficult for ourselves. We missed a penalty, gave two penalties away and still drew 2-2.
“We made sure that we stayed in the game and tried to get as many opportunities as we could. Overall I thought that our defending was magnificent today.”
Allardyce, who replaced Javi Gracia on May 3, now has two games left to save his side from relegation.
Leeds travel to West Ham United on May 21 and then host Tottenham Hotspur on May 28.
GO DEEPER
Howe confronted in technical area by pitch invader at Leeds
(Photo: Getty Images)