Leeds United boss makes ‘weak’ penalty claim after Newcastle United’s win over Wolves

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch says his side remain in a battle to retain their Premier League status, despite a 3-0 win at Watford on Saturday.

And when discussing the Whites’ survival hopes, the American cryptically alluded to ‘weak penalties’ in recent fixtures involving their relegation rivals.

Leeds’ victory at Vicarage Road, which lifted them nine points above the drop zone, came less than 24 hours after Newcastle United beat Wolves at St James’ Park via a Chris Wood penalty.

It’s unclear if that was the spot-kick(s) Marsch was referring to, with Everton, directly below Leeds in the league table, awarded two during their 3-2 defeat at Burnley on Wednesday.

Asked if Leeds remained in a relegation battle, Marsch said: “Yeah, yeah. Everyone’s getting results around us.”

The 48-year-old continued: “I think there have been some weak penalties in some of these games and we can’t seem to buy a penalty. That’s another topic.

“People in Leeds tell me we have to fight for everything and I’ve said already that I’m okay with that, but I think especially with the 16-day break now, it would have been really difficult to sit and watch the table knowing that we didn’t pick up the points that we wanted in this game and things are going to get tight.

“By the time we play against Palace, the table will be tight again. We just have to stay focused on us, I’ve said that a million times now.

“But that’s the most important thing, it’s got us to where we are right now, this concept and mentality of just working every day and trying to improve and trying to give everything we have to each other.”

Newcastle, one-point above Leeds in the top-flight table, play Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Norwich City before Leeds are next in action at Selhurst Park on Monday, April 25.