leeds united were held to a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon (ET) after Gabriel Gudmundsson was sent off in stoppage time before half, forcing the visitors to play the entire second period with 10 men. The match finished 0-0 and featured a missed penalty that might have tilted the contest. The point moves them a little further from the relegation zone as the tight bottom end of the table continues to shape up.
Leeds United: Red card and missed penalty define dour draw
The key moments came late in the first half when referee Thomas Bramall booked Gabriel Gudmundsson and, shortly after, produced a second yellow that became a red. Only Ismaila Sarr, the player who had been fouled, appeared to recall that Gudmundsson already carried a caution, and the dismissal left leeds united down to 10 for the entire second period. Earlier in the half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up and struck a rushed spot-kick wide of Walter Benitez’s goal; elsewhere the game produced no goals and few clear chances.
Turning points and refereeing controversy
Match incidents stretched beyond the red card. Brennan Johnson escaped punishment for an action in the second half that some saw as inconsistent with the treatment of Leeds players, and Jefferson Lerma had a late winner ruled out for offside against Johnson. Observers described both fixtures that afternoon as forgettable; the two matches tied together produced a combined zero goals, while leeds united managed to grind out a point on the road despite the numerical disadvantage.
Immediate reactions and standings snapshot
Daniel Farke’s side left with a result they will accept given the circumstances, and fans expressed frustration at the officiating and the missed chances. The Sunday fixtures also involved Nottingham Forest, who sit in the relegation positions and hosted Fulham, and both clubs had recent European commitments: Nottingham Forest had played in the Europa League on Thursday, and Crystal Palace were coming off a Europa Conference League outing on Thursday. The draw means leeds united sit on 32 points after 30 games, three points clear of West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham in the relegation mix.
What’s next
With both clubs juggling domestic and European schedules, attention will turn quickly to upcoming fixtures and the second legs that played on the minds of players this weekend. Tottenham remain involved in the same relegation cluster and face a tough test later on Sunday, and leeds united will aim to use the point as a platform to tighten their grip on safety as the run-in continues.
