Leeds winger Raphinha takes aim at Premier League refereeing standards after heavy tackle forces him off

Raphinha could not disguise his views on the tackle that saw him leave Elland Road on crutches, taking aim at referee Robert Jones not long after the final whistle of Leeds United’s draw.

"The best referees are at the Premier (League)," the Brazilian wrote sarcastically on a social media platform.. He also added that he had not suffered a serious injury and hopes to be back soon but further scans will determine whether he misses games as Marcelo Bielsa’s team look to climb away from their position just above the relegation zone.

Regardless of whether Raphinha plays against Norwich City next weekend, Bielsa has stumbled into a formation that could work at Carrow Road. Joe Gelhardt came off the bench and changed the game for Leeds and has staked a claim for a starting place in a 4-4-2 system.

The formation is using the players Bielsa has fit in the best way possible. With Patrick Bamford out, two strikers gives them numbers and variation. Gelhardt should be given his chance as he looked fearless on his home debut, earning the equalising penalty for Rodrigo Moreno, who would be his partner.

Dan James started as a striker but looked more comfortable in the second half when he switched to the left wing. Jack Harrison is his other winger option if Raphinha needs time to recover.

The only other Premier League game the Brazilian has missed this season was the defeat to Southampton which was Leeds’ worst performance of the campaign. In that match, Bielsa used a three-man defence but Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente in a flat-back four were more effective against Wolves. “The first half of Cooper was also very significant,” said Bielsa.

Kalvin Phillips was back on the bench and is closing in on a return to action. He slots straight into central midfield. He usually screens the defence in a 4-1-4-1 system but Gelhardt’s cameo makes him difficult to leave out. Against Daniel Farke’s team, who are conceding 2.5 goals per game on average, it would be a game to unleash all of Bielsa’s attacking options.

Conor Coady, the Wolves captain, highlighted the difficulties that Leeds' style poses.

"It's hard to come here and adapt to their way of playing and try to not get caught up in a basketball match with people running everywhere," he said.

"We had to try to be clever, be together, compact and solid and we did it for the majority of the game."

Match report: Late Rodrigo penalty salvaged a point for struggling Leeds against Wolves

By Mike McGrath

It was another worrying afternoon for Marcelo Bielsa following injury to Raphinha but the cause for optimism comes from Joe Gelhardt, who made his Elland Road debut and helped rescue a dramatic last-gasp draw.

Bielsa is waiting on the assessment of Raphinha’s lower-leg injury sustained after a heavy challenge from Romain Saiss and the Leeds manager will be hoping he has not lost another key player to injury for a significant period.

The Brazilian needed crutches and wore a protective boot after he was taken off nine minutes into the second half.

With Kalvin Phillips only fit for the bench and Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Junior Firpo currently out, Bielsa cannot afford one of his most productive forwards to be sidelined as he tries to move the club away from their position just above the relegation zone.

While Bielsa felt his team controlled the game, it was a fortunate point sealed by Rodrigo Moreno’s stoppage-time penalty, cancelling out Hwang Hee-chan’s opening goal.

The late equaliser came thanks to Gelhardt, 19, who came on for the last half an hour and made Leeds look more threatening. After being sent through and seeing his finish tipped over the crossbar, he earned Rodrigo’s penalty when he was brought down by Nelson Semedo.

“I sort of went numb when I heard the noise, the tiredness just goes away,” said Gelhardt, who was bought at the start of last season as Wigan Athletic went into administration. “It was crazy. I'd love to play more games here at Elland Road and in the Premier League in the future.”

It meant Bielsa ended one of the most testing weeks of his managerial career on a relative high. He felt worried by his team being outrun by Southampton in their last match, with workrate underpinning how his team operates.

His response was to go back to basics with his system. Bielsa, revered by coaches for his innovation, put out a simple 4-4-2 and did not want to over-complicate matters. With an injury crisis among key players, it was a formation that attempted to get the best out of those not sidelined.

Their gameplan, however, was blown apart in the first 10 minutes as Wolves earned an early lead. Hwang’s nickname from earlier in his career is The Bull for his aggressive style but his recent run of three goals in as many matches has been more Steve Bull.

His goal was a simple finish after Leeds were troubled by a hopeful long ball they would expect to routinely deal with. Semedo crossed and the danger appeared to be coming from Raul Jimenez. The Mexican’s shot was blocked by Jamie Shackleton and it merely allowed Hwang to prod goalwards with Leeds wrong-footed.

Leeds came close to an equaliser when Tyler Roberts, on as a half-time replacement, headed just wide of the post. Gelhardt, also coming off the bench, had a shot tipped over the crossbar skilfully by Jose Sa after Rodrigo sent him through.

But there was one last chance thanks to Gelhardt surging into the area and being fouled by Semedo, with Rodrigo keeping his cool with the penalty.

“I think it was very soft,” said Wolves coach Bruno Lage. “I didn’t see it on TV but I think it was very soft.”

Bielsa credited the Leeds fans for generating the atmosphere to allow his team to earn a point. There were also pictures of an object thrown onto the pitch, however.

“I received something that was written to me from Chile and it reminded me of a song the fans in that country sing that says that when a team is not playing well the more you have to shout because that makes them win,” he said.

“In this game when the team most needed it, the public had a decisive presence.”