Illan Meslier was defended by former Leeds striker Ross McCormack because the under-fire goalkeeper confronted extra strain.
Leeds’ push for promotion to the Premier League hit a snag with a heartbreaking 2-2 draw with Swansea on Saturday.
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A tough-earned lead was let slip by one other Meslier blunder that noticed followers’ frustration boil over.
Although Meslier notably made an excellent penalty save earlier within the sport, his late mistake solid a shadow over his earlier heroics.
This disappointing consequence leaves Leeds in second place with 81 factors, tied with Burnley, but precariously holding their place solely resulting from objective distinction.
Sheffield United at present reign prime of the Championship desk with 83 factors because the promotion race is about to go right down to the wire.
Meslier is taking the vast majority of the flak, however McCormack pointed to different issues with the Leeds squad.
With solely seven matches remaining, talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling probed McCormack on whether or not supervisor Daniel Farke might need a ‘blind spot’ concerning Meslier.
“He is gained Leeds fairly a number of factors this season as nicely together with his saves, so it is most likely vital to not leap down his throat an excessive amount of,” McCormack informed talkSPORT Breakfast.
“However it’s not the primary time that he is let a comfortable objective in or two. So, I feel the issue is that the backup keepers are most likely not of an ordinary to come back in and exchange him and make the staff higher.”
Meslier’s previous blunders, just like the late objective conceded in opposition to Sunderland in October, have solely intensified scrutiny round him however he isn’t the actual downside in keeping with McCormack.
“I feel Leeds have gotten one large downside, and it is within the striker division,” he said.
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“I all the time really feel that the staff that goes on and wins the league may have a striker that can go and get plenty of targets and contribute each sport.
“Now, for pretty much as good a participant, technically, as Joel Piroe is, I simply do not see him being that man for Leeds, after which they’ve solely bought the opposite younger boy, Mateo Joseph, to come back off the bench and he isn’t prepared to start out each sport both.”
He highlighted the depth of Sheffield United’s attacking choices in distinction, additional emphasizing Leeds’ issues.
“So I’d have stated most likely 4 or 5 weeks in the past Leeds have been a positive factor. I assumed they’d have pulled away on the prime, however as Leeds appear to do on a regular basis, they pull themselves again into it and it was this stage of the season final yr, really after the worldwide break, the place they began to falter. In order that they’ll be hoping that it would not strike twice.”
Leeds’ upcoming challenges in opposition to groups like Middlesbrough, Oxford United, Stoke, and Bristol Metropolis are being considered as pivotal.
Concerning these upcoming matches, McCormack stated, “In direction of this stage of the season, Jeff, there aren’t any simple video games.
“Everybody will probably be preventing, whether or not or not it’s to attempt to get out of the league and even keep within the league. So the video games will probably be robust. I am positive Sheffield United and Burnley nonetheless should play one another, so one thing has to provide there.
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“I wish to see Burnley go and beat Sheffield United as a result of I feel Sheffield United are most likely the stronger of the 2. However it’ll be ever so tight. They will (Leeds) simply be hoping that there aren’t any playoffs this yr, that is for positive.”
Leeds’ historical past within the play-offs is stuffed with painful reminiscences for the Leeds trustworthy, from the 2019 semi-final defeat to Derby County to the heart-wrenching loss to Southampton within the 2023 Championship play-off last, the place an Adam Armstrong objective sealed their destiny.
This previous provides a heavy weight to the urgency of attaining computerized promotion.
Leeds’ subsequent problem awaits them away at Luton on April fifth, with kickoff set for 12:30 pm.