Warnock: Reading players got Thompson sent off

Leeds manager Neil Warnock has fumed at Zac Thompson’s sending off, saying the Reading players influenced the referee’s decision.

The former QPR and Sheffield United manager is never known to be short of excuses but gave his verdict on this case. Thompson was sent off on 12 minutes, which changed the whole complex of the game. Leeds did manager to hold out for over an hour with ten men but were not able to stop Reading scoring two goals late on.

Warnock said after the 2-0 loss: ‘Straight away he gives the red card and I thought the kid was unlucky, having watched it three or four times. The ref only sees it once but when you`ve got the crowd and five or six players around you straight away, you tend to react.

don`t think it`s a red card, not when you see it in slow motion.’

‘I thought Pugh`s tackle was worse. He should have been sent off and Hunt`s challenge on Lonergan was a disgrace. The players were fantastic under the circumstances. We had a makeshift team and I didn`t think they had a shot on goal until they scored. We played really well under the cosh and I`m right pleased.’

Leeds very much played a physical game, with several challenges flying in but not necessarily unfair. However Jem Karacan appeared to be targeted by a few of the Leeds players, leading to the Turkish midfielder limping off with a suspected sprained or broken ankle which would almost certainly rule him out for the season.