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Leeds United legend Jon Newsome has expressed his amusement and criticism towards Sunderland fans for their celebratory behavior following a recent 2-2 draw against Leeds at the Stadium of Light. The match, which took place on a Friday, saw Leeds leading 2-1 until the 96th minute when a dramatic turn of events occurred.
The game’s climax came in injury time when Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier made a catastrophic error, allowing Sunderland to equalize and secure a point. This last-minute goal kept Sunderland at the top of the league table. However, it’s the post-match reaction of the Sunderland supporters that caught Newsome’s attention and sparked his critique.
After the final whistle, Sunderland fans began singing the popular chant “Leeds are falling apart,” a song often used to mock Leeds United. Newsome found this celebration particularly misplaced and, in his view, somewhat ridiculous. He pointed out the irony of Sunderland fans celebrating a home draw as if it were a victory, especially considering the circumstances of the equalizer.
Newsome, who once played as a defender for Leeds, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation. Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, he expressed his bewilderment at the Sunderland fans’ reaction. He emphasized that Leeds had effectively dropped two points rather than Sunderland earning a point through their own merit.
In his commentary, Newsome stated, “Absolutely [it’s two points dropped], you have to look at the reaction of the supporters, the Sunderland supporters they are all singing stupid ‘Leeds are falling apart’.” He went on to mock the celebration, pointing out, “You just salvaged; you just nicked what a 2-2 draw at home.”
Newsome’s criticism extended beyond just the celebration of the draw. He highlighted the fact that Sunderland, despite being top of the league, only managed to secure this draw due to a significant goalkeeping error rather than through their own skillful play. He colorfully described this turn of events as being “more jam than Hartley’s,” a British expression suggesting an extremely lucky or fortunate outcome.
The former Leeds defender seemed particularly irked by the disparity between the result and the fans’ reaction. From his perspective, Sunderland supporters were acting as if they had won the game outright, rather than salvaging a draw in the dying moments of the match. This behavior, in Newsome’s view, was unwarranted given the circumstances of the equalizer and the overall performance of both teams.
Newsome’s comments reflect a broader sentiment often seen in football, where the manner of achieving a result can be just as important as the result itself. In this case, he suggests that Sunderland’s celebration was disproportionate to their actual performance and the nature of the draw.
The match and its aftermath highlight the intense rivalry and emotion that often characterize encounters between teams in competitive leagues. It also underscores how different perspectives can emerge from the same event, with Sunderland fans reveling in a last-minute equalizer while Leeds supporters and former players view it as points dropped.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to meet again on February 15th for the reverse fixture at Elland Road, Leeds United’s home ground. This upcoming match will likely carry additional significance given the dramatic ending of their previous encounter and the reactions it provoked. It presents an opportunity for Leeds to seek redemption on their home turf and for Sunderland to prove their mettle away from home.
This future meeting also adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing narrative between these two teams. Football fans and pundits alike will be keenly watching to see how both sides perform and whether the outcome of this match will influence the dynamics of their next encounter. The reaction of both sets of fans, particularly in light of Newsome’s comments, will also be a point of interest as the rivalry between Leeds United and Sunderland continues to evolve.
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