BBC pundit left furious after Illan Meslier incident in Leeds United 2-1 loss v Preston, ‘the sport is done’
BBC pundit Rob Staton was left fuming after Illan Meslier’s red card for Leeds United in their 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on Tuesday.
Leeds’ hopes of further narrowing the gap to second-placed Ipswich suffered a blow as they were beaten 2-1 by Preston at Deepdale on Tuesday 26 December.
After a cagey and tight first half, the game exploded into life when the Whites were reduced to 10 players after goalkeeper Meslier was shown a straight red card for a needless shove in the face of Milutin Osmajic.
Pundit and journalist for BBC Sheffield, Staton taking to his personal X account after the game (26 December) was left fuming after the referee’s decision, arguing Football “is done” if Meslier’s lashing out can be given as a red card.
He posted: “If that’s a red card in the Leeds game, the sport is done. Pack it up and let’s go.”
Meslier didn’t help himself
While the awarding of the red card may have looked soft, Meslier certainly did not help himself and it’s fair to say that the goalkeeper potentially cost the club three huge points in the push for promotion.
The Frenchman has been superb all season for the Whites keeping the second-most clean sheets in the Championship and producing some world-class saves in the process.
However, one moment of madness could certainly change the perceptions of his qualities and maturity at the highest level once again and that was certainly the case at Deepdale.
The best players simply do not react when provoked, and keep their heads in check when crucial points are on offer but Meslier cost his side and Daniel Farke who will be left reeling at him and his players after their Boxing Day defeat.
Overall, it was a pretty underwhelming performance from Leeds and Farke was rightly not happy about it after the game, but Meslier, branded “stupid” by Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie certainly has to hold his hands up there and take the brunt of the blame.
In other Leeds news, ‘Stupid’ ace drops 1/10 stinker in player ratings after Whites beaten at Deepdale.