Leeds fans mock Gnonto with ‘cry baby’ banner during controversial draw to West Brom

Leeds fans mock Willy Gnonto with a ‘cry baby’ banner during the controversial 1-1 draw to West Brom live on Sky Sports Friday night.

The 19 year old, who previously was loved by fans, who had been told off for singing a cheeky ‘rude’ chant about him not so long ago, had now produced a sour relationship with the club and their fanbase.

He has put in a transfer request at Leeds as he looks to force a move away from Elland Road, with Everton seeing two bids rejected for the Italy forward, who has been told he needs to play top-flight football to be considered for Euro 2024 selection.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said on Thursday that Gnonto was training away from the first-team squad but now Gnonto is refusing to play, leading to the club opening disciplinary proceedings.

Luke Ayling equalised for the Whites with a powerful header after Brandon Thomas-Asante’s controversial opener.

Carlos Corberan’s side were on the verge of collecting all three points with Brandon Thomas-Asante’s 52nd minute opener.

It saw Jayson Molumby’s shot deflected off Thomas-Asante’s arm – but the goal stood.

But, despite West Brom’s Alex Palmer putting in a great performance and made two fine saves from Dan James in both halves, Leeds skipper Luke Ayling levelled on the 72nd minute with a header into the top right corner from a cross by James.

Leeds are still waiting for first Championship win of season, and haven’t claimed a league victory since the 4th of April.

52′ Goal West Brom. The ball deflects off Thomas-Asante’s arm and into the net, after Jayson Molumby fires a shot at goal. 0-1

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 18, 2023

West Brom LEAD! 💥

Molumby’s deflected shot hits Thomas-Asante and puts them 1-0 up 👇 pic.twitter.com/cWchxNNIIr

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 18, 2023

“In my eyes that’s a penalty” 👀

Daniel Farke is FURIOUS at that Kipre challenge ⬇ pic.twitter.com/SNjyohEGnx

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 18, 2023

Leeds United (4-3-3): Meslier; Ayling (c), Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Gray, Ampadu; Shackleton; Gelhardt (Greenwood, 84), James, Rutter.

Subs not used: Klaesson, Darlow, Cresswell, Gyabi, Bate, Drameh.

Albion (3-4-3): Palmer; Ajayi, Kipre, Pieters (Townsend, 69); Furlong, Molumby, Yokuslu (Chalobah, 86), Phillips; Wallace (c) (Gardner-Hickman, 86), Thomas-Asante (Maja, 69), Swift (Sarmiento, 69).

Subs not used: Griffiths, Bartley, Fellows, Mowatt.

Referee: Matthew Donohue

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke said to Sky Sports: “It’s a hell of a challenge. We were expecting to keep a few of our quality players.

“We also have a few injuries to our key players which is also unlucky.

“We had to wait so long for the financial restrictions to get some incomings so it’s not been easy.

“Hopefully we can get better and better as the season goes. There were many encouraging signs today.

“It’s a long road, a bumpy road, a hell of a task. If it was easy then everybody would do it and I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

On the Albion goal, Farke added: “I wasn’t aware their goal was handball. I was thinking it might be, but I was too far away to judge it.

“We can only concentrate on what we can influence and that’s our performance.

“I only have compliments for the lads. I like this attitude, the lads never know when they are beaten.

“You have these periods in the season where you find it hard to win games so you have to make sure you don’t lose.

“I’m pretty pleased with our performance. It would normally be enough for three points, but I’m pleased with our spirit and the comeback attitude.”

Luke Ayling said post-match: “It’s a very long season, this Championship season, and we have 43 games to go. I’m not going to lie, I can’t wait for the window to close so that we know what we’ve got.

“There is a lot of uncertainty and a lot of players going. Hopefully, we will get a few in over the next few weeks, but we have a great squad in there. It’s a young group who really want to do well. We work hard on the training ground every day, and I know it is frustrating for the fans at times, but I promise you, we are working really hard. We are a young team, and I’m sure things will come good.”

“I can’t wait for the [transfer] window to close so we know what we’ve got!” 😂

Leeds Captain Luke Ayling reflects on the “uncertainty” within the club ⬇ pic.twitter.com/X8CuJppc1B

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 18, 2023

West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan told Sky Sports: “I think it was a fair result. But we didn’t use our attacking advantages as well as we could have.

“We put pressure on them, but we conceded chances with our mistakes which gave Leeds the mentality that they could hurt us.

“We scored the goal early in the second half and that made us more focused to defend the result.

“I liked how the team’s intensity didn’t decrease after we conceded the goal. We stayed concentrated and we reacted enough and didn’t allow them to keep that momentum and attack us.

“I liked the reaction from the team, I liked the way we showed our personality early in the second half.

“But it is true that we need to avoid the mistakes and to take advantage when we’re attacking to harm the opponent.

“I don’t want to review the actions which may have been complicated for the referees.

“Maybe after we scored the goal we were too focused on defending and maybe we should have been more aggressive. That’s the only thing that maybe I will review and tell my team in terms of managing the game better.”

Here’s what fans say as Leeds fans mock Gnonto with a ‘cry baby’ banner and also the reaction during what was deemed by some fans as a controversial draw to West Brom…

ON GNONTO

@WhitbyPhotos: Doesn’t change anything other than we now know he can write. Playtime in the reserves, and make sure he has no chance at all in playing for Italy anytime soon.

@ChloeWakefiel16: Put him on bench for u23’s for rest of season.

@VitalLeeds: Just sell him and move on. Don’t want the little Judas to play in a Leeds shirt again.

@talkaboutlufcv2: Enjoy the reserves 🐀

@chrisgalton: Signed a 5-year contract last September. Sounds like a breach of contract so stop his wages as he’s made himself not available. Put a £40M-£50M price tag on him and if no offers come in, let him see out the remaining 4 years sat doing nothing.

@MattCray: Can’t say this about many things this summer – but Leeds playing this well. EFC cough up £27m – and that’s just fine. And honestly – he’s not worth that. Same for Adams (who IS worth that) and there is time…

@Matty_harry_son: He’s had all week to do it and does it on a game day 🐍🐍

@LeedsUnited43: Hold out, just to drive his career into the ground.

@cpeno: Suspend him immediately with no wages. I thought there was a way back if he apologised but that is unforgivable

ON THE CONTROVERSY

@PovedaSZN: handball and scored by a player who should be off, football is back

@GLUFC_: The bloke who should of already had a red card scores, business as usual!

@CJGriffin_: Handball by a long mile

@waynepoppleton: Handball. VAR would have cancelled it for sure.

@Xrs3naL: Didn’t even need the special VAR cameras for that one. Wild how the championship doesn’t have VAR

@JasonATobin88: Handball all day!!!

@porscheuro: Are west brom players exempt from handball tonight then, moloumby should have been off in first half for it for a 2nd yellow but no

@RochdaleRhino: They’ve scored a goal from a hand ball from a shot from a guy who shouldn’t have been on the pitch and we have a clear penalty denied. You’ve gotta love Championship refs

@westyorksij: Offside, handball and the goal stands. Never thought I’d miss VAR

@mjgarrity72: EFL refs – deflection off an arm and Molumby shouldn’t be on the pitch – unbelievably bad #lufc

@RagingKileak: Why are balls that deflect off hands being allowed as goals in this shit league?

@PremierLeedsMOT: Never thought I’d miss VAR 🥲

@TomWilson2323: Good to see championship refs haven’t changed while we’ve been away