Source: Team_Talk
Grayson refuses to turn on Friend
Simon Grayson refused to condemn referee Kevin Friend following his decision not to send off Ian Ashbee in Leeds' 2-2 draw at home to Hull.[LNB] The Whites' Argentinian striker Luciano Becchio was flattened by Ashbee's challenge late in the second half of Tuesday night's Championship clash at Elland Road after team-mate John Bostock had already been dismissed for two yellow card offences.[LNB]Hull teenager Bostock, on loan from Tottenham, had earlier thundered home a 30-yard free-kick to give his side a 14th-minute lead, but Bradley Johnson drilled home a deserved equaliser from the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd minute.[LNB]Leeds dominated the second half and on-loan Bolton defender Andy O'Brien headed his first goal for the club to put them deservedly in front in the 71st minute. But Grayson's side gifted Hull a share of the points in the 82nd minute when Johnson sliced Tigers' substitute Tom Cairney's corner into his own net at the near post.[LNB]Grayson said of the elbowing incident: "I've seen it and it's not too clever. He's got a bump above his eye.[LNB]"But it's not for me to decide. I've seen it and made my feelings clear and it's up to the referee to decide.[LNB]"Someone asked me the question on Monday and I've always agreed with what (Stoke manager) Tony Pulis had to say - referees should come out and be accountable for decisions, good or bad, and do a press conference afterwards.[LNB]"It shouldn't be me explaining why the situation didn't get sorted when it should have done."[LNB]Grayson was left frustrated his side had been denied a first win in four home league matches, but Leeds have the consolation of halting a miserable sequence of three straight home defeats and kept pace with the top six.[LNB]Grayson added: "It's frustrating because we should have won the game.[LNB]But after the sending off we got a little bit sloppy, a bit lacksadaisical and if you do that in any match you're going to get punished.[LNB]"Unfortunately that's what's happened and it's cost us two points we should certainly have had."[LNB]Hull remain without a win for eight league matches now and despite rescuing a point, fans have yet to be convinced Nigel Pearson, in his fifth month in charge, is the right man to lead them up the table.[LNB]But Pearson was pleased with his players' response following Saturday's home defeat to Humber rivals Scunthorpe.[LNB]Pearson said: "We played with a lot more drive and belief of late and if we show those qualities more often we'll change our luck.[LNB]"But there were quite a lot of positives tonight. If we show the same sort of drive, commitment and honesty we will turn things round.[LNB]"But that's got to be the starting point. I didn't feel we ever gave up the fight. The palyers have worked exceptionally hard tonight.[LNB]"It was a decent derby, but I'm not going overboard. Let's keep it in perspective, it's a point and we still remain in a position we don't want to be in."
