Sky Sports pundit slams Illan Meslier for mistake in Leeds United clash v Middlesbrough
Michael Dawson has slammed Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier for a mistake early in the Whites’ clash with Middlesbrough on Saturday 2 December.
Daniel Farke’s side ran out 3-2 winners at Elland Road thanks to goals from Dan James, Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe but were forced to come from behind after Emmanuel Latte Lath broke the deadlock with only three minutes played in the first half.
The 24-year-old smashed past Meslier early in the clash, beating the Frenchman at his near post from a tight angle and Sky Sports pundit Dawson was insistent that the 23-year-old should have done more to stop it.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (2 December, 15:03) he said: “Great bit of play down the left-hand side with Bangoura it’s fantastic. He finds Latte Lath, he chops inside Archie Gray, very tight angle and he just whips it.
“You think he’s going the far corner of Meslier, he doesn’t he goes on the inside. I probably think he should do better, Middlesbrough don’t care.”
Poor mistake
Throughout the early weeks of the season, Leeds United have managed to dodge upsets thanks to the excellent exploits of their attacking talent and the exact same was the case at Elland Road against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Whites started incredibly slowly and allowed Michael Carrick’s side to get an early foothold in the game, but Meslier really should have done more to keep Latte Lath’s opener out considering it crept in at his near post from a very tight angle.
Middlesbrough’s opener only registered an xG of 0.03 so realistically it shouldn’t have beaten the Frenchman, especially when you consider the fact he was a regular in the Premier League last year and should be more than comfortable playing in the Championship [Fotmob].
If the Whites have genuine ambitions of making an immediate return to the Premier League this season, they need to improve their defensive record as they have been reliant on their attacking players to get them out of trouble in recent weeks.
Part of that will be ensuring that Melsier improves his form, otherwise, Leeds will face an uphill battle.
In other Leeds United news, it has been revealed that Farke was the reason that Adam Forshaw departed Elland Road this summer