Beren Cross names man to ‘manage the damage’ after Leeds United ace done ‘hook, line, and sinker’
Karl Darlow will be left to “manage the damage” after Leeds United teammate Illan Meslier was done “hook, line, and sinker” in the defeat by Preston, says journalist Beren Cross.
Whites keeper Meslier was sent off in the first half of the 2-1 defeat at Deepdale on Tuesday (26 December) for raising a hand into the face of Milutin Osmajic.
Meslier is now set for a three-game suspension with understudy Darlow ready to deputise for Leeds’ first choice.
Cross was left flummoxed by Meslier’s moment of madness, writing for LeedsLive (26 December): “There must be under-sevens who know you cannot raise your hands, whatever the provocation. Meslier virtually raised them twice in the space of 10 seconds.
“The irony is it all came after a well-taken catch in the air under a high Preston North End ball. It’s all well and good having a little ego, especially as a former France Under-21 international, but the elbow swipe in Ben Whiteman’s direction was entirely unnecessary.
“Milutin Osmajic was wrong to do what he did and even more embarrassing to roll around as he did, but Meslier’s taken the bait, hook, line and sinker.
“The subsequent unravelling of the game and points won elsewhere in the league only add further insult to injury, piling more weight onto Meslier’s undoubtedly low-hanging head on the road home to West Yorkshire. It’s left to Karl Darlow to now manage the damage which could yet still be done following one mistake by Meslier.”
Safe deputy
It was such a silly, silly moment from Meslier. Sure there was a bit of provocation but it was a moment to just let pass and get on with the game, not to throw a hand into an opponent’s face – even if he did milk it for all it’s worth.
Leeds were always facing an uphill battle from there and even after Pascal Struijk equalised from the spot in the second half there felt a certain inevitability about Liam Millar’s winner.
The good news is that in Darlow Leeds have an excellent back-up and a good operator at Championship level. Let’s not forget that he was signed in the first place as an expected replacement for Meslier, whose summer exit never materialised.
So, they certainly have the right man to “manage the damage” caused by Meslier and if he impresses it might even be that the former Newcastle United man gets to keep the gloves. An opportunity has certainly presented itself for him.
In other Leeds United news, Archie Gray is surely set to be axed against West Brom on Friday.