Sky Sports pundit Tim Sherwood slams Leeds United star Illan Meslier for what he did in defeat at Everton
Illan Meslier had an “absolute nightmare” as he allowed Everton to score the only goal of the game against Leeds United, says Tim Sherwood.
Seamus Coleman scored the winner at Goodison Park in the 64th minute, when he fired straight in from out wide on the right with the Whites keeper in no man’s land in his area and leaving a big gap at his near post.
On a day when Leeds United were poor from front to back there was no way for them to get back into the game, and Sherwood blasted Meslier’s error live on Sky Sports.
Reacting on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (18 February, 4.23pm) Sherwood said: “The Everton fans are going mad. The ball comes down the right-hand side, it’s a crossing position. Meslier comes out to try to take the cross, and I’m going to give [Coleman] the benefit of the doubt, he shoots.
“He shoots on a narrow angle and it hits the inside of the far netting. I think it has to be a cross because he’s never done it before in his life. But he’s kissing the badge and everything, the crowd they really don’t care…
“He can’t cross it because there’s no-one in there but he has to be just turning that into an area, but Meslier the goalkeeper has an absolute nightmare.
“He tries to anticipate it but I don’t know why because there’s no-one in the box for Everton anyway and it just flies into the far corner, 1-0 Everton.”
Miserable day
Despite making a couple of important saves, most notably from James Tarkowski in the first half, Meslier didn’t look the assured presence he often does.
That no doubt owed plenty to the fact that it was a high stakes game and his goal was under pressure for most of it, not to mention the fact this is a squad playing without a permanent manager.
Twice in quick succession he was rescued by Max Wober and Weston McKennie with goal-line clearances before the break, and once dropped a high ball under pressure from Amadou Onana.
But it was the goal which underlined his day to forget, with there appearing to be little danger as Robin Koch ran out to the right hand channel to meet the Toffees captain.
There were very few options open to the Irishman who wasn’t being supported by runners into the box, and whether he meant it or not, a speculative effort into the huge gap left by the Leeds United keeper was all he could attempt.
Fortunately for him, but unfortunately for Michael Skubala and the horrified Whites fans, that paid off to secure the home side three points that lifted them out of the drop zone, and plunged Leeds down to 19th.
In other Leeds United news, click here to see breaking, around-the-clock updates on Leeds’ search for a new manager in our interactive live blog.
Be sure to follow MOT Leeds News on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest, breaking news from Elland Road.