Clinton Morrison hailed Kristoffer Klaesson on BBC Radio 5 Live for making a ‘brilliant’ save to keep Leeds United ahead in their dramatic come-from-behind win at Wolves on Friday.
The Whites fell two-goals behind at Molineux late in the first-half as Francisco Trincao built on Jonny Otto’s opening effort. Wolves were cruising before the interval and looked set to hand Jesse Marsch a third Premier League defeat in four as Marcelo Bielsa’s successor.
But the game changed course in the 53rd-minute when Kevin Friend showed Raul Jimenez a second yellow card. The Mexican was already on a caution before he collided with Illan Meslier in a 50-50 challenge that left both needing treatment, yet was assigned the blame.
Meslier was unable to continue following the collision with Jimenez, having sustained a hip contusion. Marsch said after the game that he did not think the injury was ‘too bad’. But it gave Klaesson a chance to make his Leeds debut at Wolves, after joining last July for £1m.
Bielsa took Klaesson to Leeds from Valerenga to replace Kiko Casilla as Meslier’s backup on a four-year contract. But the 21-year-old spent all 29 prior Premier League games, plus each FA Cup and Carabao Cup tie, since joining on the bench without playing a second.
Morrison hails ‘brilliant’ Kristoffer Klaesson for big impact in Leeds win
But Meslier’s injury at Wolves forced Marsch to hand Klaesson his debut with 35 minutes to play. A period in which the Whites stunned Molineux as Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and Luke Ayling fired home to flip the scoreline, making their man advantage count for three points.
Ayling’s stoppage-time strike secured United just their seventh top-flight win this term so far. It also stretched the West Yorkshire outfit to seven points clear of the relegation zone. But they have now played once more than 18th-place Watford who do not play this week.
Yet Marsch can also thank Klaesson for standing up when Leeds needed Meslier’s backup the most to beat Wolves. Trincao fashioned a late chance to break the Whites’ spirits late in stoppage-time. But the Norway Under-21 international refused to concede on his debut.
Having not expected to face Wolves before Meslier’s injury, Klaesson delivering a big – and crucial – impact for Leeds thrilled Morrison. He enthused: “What a save. It’s brilliant play. For the sub goalkeeper, who did not think he was coming on, brilliant save.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
