Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Sat 29 March 2025 18:15, UK

Illan Meslier has had the latest of his eventful episodes for Leeds United in the Championship after Daniel Farke and his side met Swansea City at Elland Road.

Leeds took on the Swans on Saturday afternoon (29 March) and played out what turned out to be a deeply infuriating 2-2 draw, in a game from which the masses anticipated three points.

But Whites fans know more than most to expect the unexpected, though errors from Meslier – often frustratingly in among high-standard saves – have perhaps fallen out of that category given how many howlers he has dropped this season.

Meslier sums up his season v Swansea

The fact that at half-time Meslier was Leeds’ hero, then not even an hour later was the villain, just writes the story itself.

His diving save to his left to thwart Josh Tymon from the penalty spot after Brenden Aaronson had got his much-needed opener – and another early Leeds goal – was massive for Farke’s men, as the rest of the first half was uninspiring.

A slender lead was a lead nonetheless, at least until he dropped an easy delivery into the path of Harry Darling to level the scores for the Swans.

And after Willy Gnonto – deprived of regular game time and having recovered from injury to feature – put Leeds crucially back in the driving seat, Meslier should absolutely have done better with the last-gasp stun bolt from Zan Vipotnik six minutes into stoppage time.

Meslier’s errors against Sunderland and Hull City earlier this season, which turned wins into draws, came back to haunt the Frenchman and the Leeds fans behind his goal tenfold here.

Sheffield United now end the weekend top, leaving Leeds level on points with Burnley in a fight to avoid the dreaded third-place spot.

Farke consistently defends Leeds number one – time for change

Last season, it was the final six games of the campaign which cost Leeds automatic promotion – this year, the danger of a repetition after having beaten their league rivals looms large again at a slightly earlier point.

There are still seven games remaining of the Championship season, and whether Leeds find their way to the Premier League this season or not, Meslier should now be replaced.

To retain the number one jersey for as long as he has at such a tender age for a goalkeeper is a tremendous feat that cannot be taken from the Frenchman, but the sheer number of mistakes is obviously having a massive effect.

If Leeds fail to go up in May, Farke likely finds his managerial position untenable. He is in his last of two chances. Meslier could be suffering the same fate – Farke has defended him a multitude of times this season, but another manager may not be so forgiving.

Karl Darlow is an experienced bench option, but Farke has gone so far with Meslier in this battle that things are certainly unlikely to change.

It could come down almost solely to Meslier how Leeds’ entire future years shape up, at this point.