Dominic Calvert-Lewin's instant reaction to Leeds United goal vs Brentford with VAR gripe
The striker scored his fourth goal in as many Premier League games to earn Leeds United a point at Brentford.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin adjusted position slightly to make space for his Leeds United leveller after a physical encounter against Brentford’s centre-backs.
Calvert-Lewin’s 82nd-minute header earned Leeds a good point at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, particularly given they’d gone 1-0 down just 12 minutes earlier. Jordan Henderson put the Bees ahead but Daniel Farke’s side rallied, helped once again by their manager’s substitutions.
Willy Gnonto was introduced and provided a brilliant cross which Calvert-Lewin met high in the air to glance home. The striker, who has now scored in each of his last four appearances, found space hard to come by all game but worked himself an inch when it mattered most.
“I found it tough to be fair, the two centre-halves were physical,” Calvert-Lewin told Sky Sports immediately after full-time. “I could tell they had instructions that when the ball was wide to get hold of me and stop me from jumping.
“I tried to pick up my position offside earlier and come off the blindside. Thankfully Willy put a great ball in and I was there. I didn't realise I jumped that high. I think then you're in the moment you're just watching the ball come in. I suppose it’s my bread and butter really.
“Everything slows down. You just have to watch the ball, try and time it well and put the ball in the corner. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't and today was a good one.”
Celebrations in the away end were a little muted when the in-stadium big screen confirmed VAR were checking the goal, with Calvert-Lewin coming back from an offside position. Replays showed he timed the movement perfectly, however, and confirmation of the goal allowed fans to breathe a sigh of relief.
“It seems like every goal gets checked these days,” the goalscorer said. “When you play so high on the line and play on the shoulder it's difficult. There's always a chance it could be offside but today I got the run of play.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s reaction to Leeds United point at Brentford
Leeds had lost six of their seven away games before heading to Brentford, who boast the fourth-best home record in the Premier League. Farke’s side had the better chances in the first-half and were much more forward-thinking after the break, with Henderson’s opener against the run of play.
While there was definitely the chance to take all three points, coming from behind to draw leaves Leeds three points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, meaning they will spend at least another week outside of the relegation zone. And Calvert-Lewin was ultimately happy with the result.
"I think in the end it is a point gained,” he added. “The three points were there for the taking.
“We hung in there in the first-half, didn't give them too much to go off. Going a goal behind is frustrating, in recent weeks we have shown good character and good resilience to come back into games.”