Luckily, the incident came to nothing and manager Daniel Farke said he was unaware of the matter at the time
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
09:00, 24 Nov 2025
A spectator gets escorted from the pitch after trying to approach the dugout(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Tension in the stand was palpable following Aston Villa’s second goal in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat for Leeds United.
Not only were there shouts for a substitute on 63 minutes but boos rang out after full time – although many had left Elland Road by then. During a separate incident in-game, one spectator emerged from the West Stand and was able to get pitchside and approach the dugouts.
He was intercepted by security staff and it is now a matter for the police. Daniel Farke said he wasn’t aware of the incident when it had happened. Here are other less notable moments you may have missed.
Leeds player frustration
More than once, players turned back to chastise Lucas Perri for not being more commanding in his area. There seems to be a little bit of concern around his authority at the back after seven games.
Pascal Struijk and Gabriel Gudmundsson were seen chatting about going movements going forward during the first half but the duo looked disjointed when Struijk fouled for the free-kick that led to Morgan Rogers’ conversion – although a lot had happened in the build up to that tackle.
Substitute James Justin was seen arguing with the referee on the touchline while warming up after the assistant failed to raise his flag amid an obvious offside call, with the ball instead going for a throw-in to Leeds, penning them into the corner.
Active managers
Unai Emery and Farke were out of their seats for the majority of the game, the Villa boss more animated than his counterpart. Emery went berserk when Rogers flicked home an equaliser just after the break shortly before accusing Jayden Bogle of diving just metres in front of him – while some Leeds staff rose from the bench to applaud the winning of the foul.
One tactic that was deployed saw Brenden Aaronson usher into almost a number 10 role with Bogle out wide on the right. This rarely paid off, with Aaronson winning the free-kick for the Leeds goal by cutting inside from the right.
When Ao Tanaka came on for Anton Stach, who had to be withdrawn due to concussion, Farke was seen directing him regarding his role in midfield. He consoled the Japan star when he was taken off again in the second half, the 27-year-old barely getting away with another yellow card – which was the reason for the midfielder being hooked.
Other moments spotted
Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee made his way to the bench on crutches. Rogers would go over to him seated on the bench to celebrate after guiding home his free kick.
One lucky fan was given the honour of reading out the team news over the PA system half an hour before kick off. All the while, club mascot Lucas the Kop Cat was seen posing for a photograph with two elderly gentlemen.
A little while later, pantomime villain for the day John McGinn blasted a warm-up shot that almost hit the TV studio windows in the corner of the South Stand.
Joel Piroe was spotted asking some adolescent fans for a ball back during the game of keep-ball. Joe Rodon would later ask a supporter to quickly throw the ball back to him in-play.
