As the game got scrappy yesterday both teams went down to ten men. Gaetano Berardi clipped Bristol City striker Matty Taylor and the striker reacted before dropping back down to the floor after Berardi head-butted the forward.
Berardi has always had a fiery side to his game and it was fortunate that we were 0-3 up and pretty comfortable in all honesty when the red card did come. I’m unsure about why Taylor was sent off, probably for his reaction to the initial tackle but both walked and there was talk of issues in the tunnel after the game. Lee Johnson claims that Taylor has ended up with a broken nose which, given the pictures of Berardi’s head in the side of Taylor’s face is a very strange outcome. It wasn’t long after Lasogga had headed home a third for Leeds in a game where we always looked dangerous on the counter attack.
What it means is that Berardi will be missing for three games, including the trip to Leicester City, and home games against both Sheffield United and Derby County. In will come Vurnon Anita as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson doesn’t seem to be Thomas Christiansen’s cup of tea at all, despite starting very well in a Leeds shirt. Anita has been steady but did go through a poor patch before he was replaced by Berardi. The Swiss full-back himself hasn’t been playing well before the red card, having a poor game and following three more very poor performances. Anita will want to make sure he doesn’t give Berardi the chance to come back into the side after his suspension.
