The Griffin Park floodlights may have had an impact in Brentford goalkeeper Dan Bentley and Leeds stopper Andy Lonergan making similar mistakes, according to Sky Sports pundit Tommy Smith.
The United number one dropped a Yoann Barbet cross into the path of Neal Maupay, who headed home in the first half.
Incredibly, Bentley made the same mistake in the second half as he spilt a high ball into the box for Ezgjan Alioski to equalise. Barbet and Ryan Woods found the net in the closing stages to seal a Brentford win.
But the main talking point after the game were the similar mistakes and it has been suggested that the lighting may have played a part.
“It's an old ground with old floodlights. They can wreak havoc on the ball,” Smith said on Sky Sports at half time before adding at full time: “It's just something that came across my mind from the first goal and the second goal. I don't know whether the ball crossed through the lights.”
Lonergan would not be happy with his performance as it looked as if he'd dived over Barbet's free kick and Smith would imagine that the lights would have been in his eyeline.
He added: “I think it'll be in and around it. It's something we'd have to ask them but I'm sure they won't be looking for excuses. It's a terrible mistake from Lonergan that's cost them a goal.”
Smith felt Bentley may have been expecting a challenge but it didn't excuse the error.
He explained: “These mistakes can happen and I wonder if Dan thinks he'll take a bang from the centre forward.
“Maybe he's taken his eye off the ball. In modern day football if a keeper is touched he gets a free kick. It's a bad mistake and cost them a goal.”
