Leeds United: Fans react as EFL mark Ezgjan Alioski’s strike against West Bromwich Albion as a Kyle Bartley own goal

A selection of Leeds United supporters have been reacting on social media after the English Football League announced that Ezgjan Alioski’s goal against West Bromwich Albion had been marked as an own goal by Kyle Bartley.

[freshpress-poll id=”251101″]

The North Macedonia international had travelled to represent his country after hitting what was thought to be his third of the campaign with a consolation effort against Millwall, which made the left-back United’s second-top goalscorer in the Championship, only behind striker Patrick Bamford’s four (WhoScored).

However, the EFL’s dubious goals panel have since convened, and decided that Alioski’s match-winning effort at home to West Bromwich Albion was an own goal by Bartley, as the ball took a decisive deflection off the Baggies defender before finding a route past Sam Johnstone and into the net (Leeds Live).

The committee were summoned after referee David Coote and Leeds disagreed over who made the more significant contribution to the goal, with the EFL panel deciding in favour of their official’s call.

Alioski now joins Eddie Nketiah and Pablo Hernandez on two goals for the league term, with his effort now being credited as an own goal making it the second Leeds have benefited from after Max Lowe found the back of his net when United drew 1-1 with Derby County in September.

Having the effort against West Brom taken from him also moves Alioski’s goal tally for Leeds down to 15 in 103 games (TransferMarkt), along with eleven assists across all competitions – none of which have come this term.

Leeds fans reacting to news of the EFL’s decision have reflected on it in various ways, with some thanking Bartley for his work in helping their promotion challenge, while others hinted toward the Championship’s governing body not taking action to punish Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw for his involvement in the incident that led to Gaetano Berardi wrongly being sent off.

It was decided Bradshaw had not met the criteria to suffice deceiving the official (Yorkshire Evening Post), while Berardi’s one-game ban was overturned on the grounds of wrongful dismissal.

Here are some of the reactions shared to the EFL’s decision to mark Alioski’s goal as an own goal by Bartley…

This means our last two league goals have both been own goals. Not sure we can rely on this tactic to secure an automatic promotion spot.

— There Or Thereabouts (@NYawner) October 9, 2019