Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips believes Illan Meslier pulled off a save of ‘world-class’ quality during Tuesday night’s Championship clash with Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.
Unlike against Leicester City five weeks earlier – when the Leeds United goalkeeper tipped an effort onto the woodwork in the dying moments – Ilian Meslier’s moment of shot-stopping magic counted for nothing this time.
The France Under 21 international sprang to his right to claw a top-corner-bound Jenson Seelt header away from goal late in the first-half, though Mesleir’s Save of the Season contender only served to delay the inevitable as Sunderland finally made the most of their pressure.
Jobe Bellingham tapped in a deserved winner after the interval.
Leeds lose at Sunderland despite Illan Meslier magic
“I can’t see any goalkeepers making a better save this season,” Kevin Phillips, Premier League Golden Boot winner in 1999/2000, said during Sky Sports’ coverage.
“He’s not rooted (to the spot), he’s ready for it, and it’s just a world-class save.”
After a difficult season last time out, Meslier making a series of high-profile blunders as Leeds dropped out of the top-flight, a season in the division below is allowing the highly-rated glovesman to rebuild his reputation away from the glare of the microscope.
His feline-like reflexes were not enough to keep Sunderland off the scoresheet, however, Bellingham’s decider lifting the managerless Black Cats into the play-off places. The gap between Leeds and the top two of Ipswich Town and Leicester City, in contrast, now stands at eight and ten points respectively.
Sunderland in talks with Will Still
Sunderland will look to build on a well-deserved victory away to Bristol City over the weekend, and it remains to be seen if they have a new head coach in situ by then. Kim Hellberg was interviewed by Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus but now looks set to take over at Swedish outfit Hammarby instead.
According to ESPN, talks are now underway with Reims’ 31-year-old tactician Will Still.
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