Leeds, Chelsea move into quarters in contrasting style

Leeds won thanks to Harry Kewell’s superb run and shot from midfield, but only after referee Dermot Gallagher had denied Palace either a goal or a penalty just before the break with the scores level at 1-1.

Television pictures appeared to show that a Tommy Black shot was initially blocked by the arm of Leeds defender Michael Duberry and then crossed the line before being cleared.

Palace manager Trevor Francis said: “We feel bitterly disappointed.

“Referees have a tough job but certainly Dermot Gallagher on that occasion should either have seen the handball or the shot from Tommy Black that went a good six inches, possibly a foot, over the line.

“At that moment, we would have gone in 2-1 up.”

Pointing to the Financial consequences for the first division club, Francis said:”We can point to the fact that this game has cost us a few million by the fact that the officials couldn’t get a decision right.”

Leeds boss Terry Venables was also aggrieved after being roundly booed by Palace fans who have not forgiven him for a second spell in charge of the London club in 1998-99 which ended in its Financial collapse.

Though he had previously hauled the club from the third to the first division from 1976-80, fans on Sunday reminded him of the string of signings which achieved nothing and Venables’s own four-million pound ($6.45 million) package at the club.

Asked about Sunday’s reception at Selhurst Park, Venables said: “Disappointing, considering I had four great years here before the last time.

“It almost wipes it out, but it doesn’t because there’s a lot of good people I worked with in that time. That’s the way it is.” (Reuters)