Jermaine Beckford explained on BBC’s Final Score programme how Illan Meslier could have done ‘better’ for the third goal Crystal Palace scored against Leeds yesterday.
The former striker pointed out how Leeds’ man between the sticks wasn’t himself at Selhurst Park and he thinks Helder Costa’s cruel own goal was actually a ‘mistake’ from the Frenchman.
Leeds were losing the game 2-1 at the time, and after Patrick Bamford’s first attempt was ruled offside, the last thing the away side needed was more bad luck.
Well, it continued just before the half-time break and whilst Beckford admitted that he is a fan of Meslier, he thinks the Leeds keeper was to blame for how he reacted to the goal being conceded.
“I think he can do better [Meslier],” said Beckford. “I am a big Meslier fan. But he has obviously anticipated the ball being put across the box, it’s taken a wicked deflection off Helder Costa.
“But when he has come back inside to try and stop the ball from going in. It looks like it has just crept underneath his body, which for me is a mistake from the goalkeeper.
“You don’t expect that. He doesn’t make mistakes. He’s not made mistakes. No, he’s not [expecting the deflection]. But then goalkeepers do reflexes and reaction saves. So, you would expect him to do better with it having seen the replay’s back.
“Initially, I thought he couldn’t do much about it. But having seen it back for the second and third time. I think he could have stopped it.”
It is a little harsh on the Leeds youngster because he has been outstanding for the Whites ever since he joined them last season.
This is just a small blip from the Leeds man, who has dethroned the experienced and former Real Madrid man Kiko Casilla from the number one spot.
To put it simply, Meslier has done a lot more right than wrong in a Leeds shirt and he will be hoping his side can stop conceding the high volume of goals they have shipped in of late.
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