The Leeds United goalkeeper impressed on Saturday despite the Whites’ latest defeat.
Leeds United may have lost their third straight Championship match when they came up against Reading at the weekend, but there was a distinct difference in terms of defensive confidence.
In short, with Andy Lonergan replacing Felix Wiedwald between the posts Leeds looked far more composed in their own area.
It is an aura of dependability all top sides need as they bid to mount a serious and prolonged promotion push, and one wonders if the second goalkeeper to arrive at Leeds in the summer is now set for a sustained spell in the starting XI.
After all, while Wiedwald kept six clean sheets in his first seven league games this season, he rarely commanded his area in the manner expected of a Championship stopper, and his performances against Millwall, Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town left a lot to be desired.
In contrast, Lonergan knows this division like the back of his hand, with 329 Championship appearances to date, and his presence will allow Leeds’ centre-backs to form an effective partnership.
After all, there have already been plenty of changes in that regard and it does not help when you have a shaky ‘keeper unwilling to command his area behind you.
Lonergan will be disappointed to concede the late goal against Reading, yet his overall performance suggests he will maintain his place when Leeds take on Bristol City next weekend.
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