Steve Bruce might be sending Andrew Garratt a belated Christmas card after the assistant referee overruled Roger East to award Aston Villa a penalty that salvaged a precious late point against Leeds.
East had somehow failed to spot Liam Cooper’s outstretched arm nudging a cross away from the head of Rudy Gestede to signal for a goal-kick in the face of huge appeals by the hosts.
But Garratt waved his flag and after a discussion between officials justice was served, enabling Jonathan Kodjia to dispatch a penalty in front of the Holte End that levelled this clash between two of the Championship’s promotion hunters four minutes from time.