Following Leeds United’s draw away to Sunderland, Illan Meslier’s terrible error remains the sole big talking point.
Leeds go into the international break severely decimated by injury, but they could have been in much better shape and spirits if they had hung on for a win at the Stadium of Light on Friday.
Deep into additional time, a 2-1 triumph appeared assured when Alan Browne’s deflected cross fell safely into the path of Illan Meslier, but the goalkeeper misjudged an odd bounce and allowed the ball to roll into his goal for 2-2.
Junior Firpo storms down tunnel at FT following Meslier’s howler
Leeds took the lead after Chris Rigg’s opener, due to goals from Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo in each half, with the latter scoring his first goal in Leeds colours since February 2023.
However, because Meslier failed to claim a simple catch, Firpo’s contribution was deemed an own goal, and he was dissatisfied at full-time.
As soon as the final whistle blew for Sunderland, the left-back stormed down the tunnel, outraged by what he had just seen:
Jeff Stelling is not pleased with Firpo’s reaction to Meslier’s stunner.
TalkSPORT broadcaster Jeff Stelling and pundit Ally McCoist spoke about the incident this morning, focusing on Firpo’s reaction.
Stelling, immediately after the match, commented on X about his disagreement with Firpo, which sent him down the tunnel enraged, instead called for support for Meslier.
Despite varying sentiments from Leeds fans, he reiterated:
Stelling got started: “It’s fair to say that Leeds United fans – they absolutely battered me for trying to defend the goalkeeper.”
Then McCoist responded: “Can I ask you in which way, shape or form are you trying to defend him?”
Response from Stelling: “What I felt was that afterwards – and Leeds fans are going to tell me this is not the case – Junior Firpo had scored, he went straight down the tunnel at the end, no attempt to console the goalkeeper.”
McCoist responded: “Wrong. You are correct, then.
Mr. Stelling concluded: “I’m going to get battered for this again now, but that’s what he needs, and when he next plays for Leeds, I hope every single Leeds United fan gets behind him.”
Meslier will receive support from the squad, and Firpo’s reaction was appropriate in the heat of the moment.
Firpo has every right to react the way he does after losing two points in such a dreadful situation, just as anyone would if the left-back kicked the ball into his own goal under no pressure.
It’s a terrible error that ruined a near-perfect away performance from 1-0 down against a team that looked very good in Sunderland too.
Firpo has every right to be enraged in the heat of the moment, but it’s clear that the squad is behind the goalkeeper right now.
We cannot afford to disintegrate after only nine games, and that will not happen under Farke’s leadership.
