Fulham 2 – 1 Leeds

April 19, 2023 admin

Illan Meslier’s nightmare form continued as his two goalkeeping mistakes meant Leeds’ important week in the relegation fight started with a 2-1 loss at Fulham.

Javi Gracia’s side went into a winnable run of games, which includes matches with Leicester and Bournemouth next week, having conceded 11 goals in their last two matches against Crystal Palace and Liverpool – and Leeds ‘keeper Meslier was largely at fault for their defeat in west London.

With a tense game locked at 0-0 approaching the hour mark, the Frenchman palmed Willian’s cross straight to Harry Wilson to slam home the opener, before parrying Antonee Robinson’s cross right to Andreas Pereira for a simple close-range finish just 15 minutes later.

Patrick Bamford came off the bench to force a Joao Palhinha own goal for Leeds and while Meslier redeemed himself by superbly tipping Willian’s free-kick onto the crossbar, those strong palms came too late.

Leeds have lost three in a row and remain on 29 points, deep in the relegation fight. Fulham, meanwhile, now have back-to-back wins which has lifted them to within four points of the European places.

How Meslier fluffed his lines

Both sides lined up without an out-and-out striker as Bobby Decordova-Reid and Rodrigo led the line for their respective teams – which could explain the goalless, lacklustre first period.

Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo forced Meslier into a superb reflex save by heading a free-kick goalwards – but the flag went up for offside.

Player ratings

Fulham: Leno (7); Tete (7), Tosin (6), Ream (8), Robinson (8); Reed (7), Palhinha (6), Pereira (8); Wilson (7), De Cordova-Reid (6), Willian (8)

Subs: Lukic (6), Vinicius (6), Cairney (n/a),Solomon (n/a, Kebano (n/a),

Leeds: Meslier (4); Kristensen (5), Koch (5), Cooper (5), Wober (6); Roca (6), McKennie (4), Aaronson (5); Harrison (6), Rodrigo (5), Summerville (6)

Subs: Bamford (7), Sinisterra (6), Gnonto (n/a), Forshaw (n/a)

Player of the match: Antonee Robinson (Fulham)

Leeds’ confidence grew as Marc Roca tested Bernd Leno from a free-kick – but that routine effort was the visitors’ only real chance of the first half.

Fulham playmaker Pereira had three efforts from distance, but two went straight at Meslier and the other went into the stands – the midfielder’s lack of killer instinct summarising the shooting in the opening period.

But Fulham made the breakthrough just before the hour mark. Roca’s poor pass across midfield was intercepted by Robinson, who charged forward and fed Willian on the left.

The Brazilian hung up a cross which Meslier should have been able to deal with – instead a soft palm left Wilson to smash home the loose ball.

Leeds immediately tried to hit back as Crysencio Summerville’s shot at the near post send visiting fans into wild celebrations – before the they realised it had hit the side netting.

Fulham did not stop either, with Pereira’s free kick smashing the crossbar with Meslier rooted to the spot.

And as Leeds committed bodies forward, their hosts hit them on the break for the second. Pereira worked the ball out to the rampaging Robinson, whose cross was palmed out by Meslier straight into the path of the Fulham midfielder, who couldn’t miss as he slammed home from a few yards out.

Leeds tried to come back into the game as Bernd Leno showed Meslier how to deal with fierce shots as he tipped Roca’s effort from the edge of the box over the bar.

But the visitors’ pressure – helped by the arrival of Luis Sinisterra and Bamford off the bench – eventually led to some good fortune as the latter’s wayward effort came off Palhinha and into the bottom corner.

But despite Leeds having 10 minutes left before a bumper eight minutes of added time – it was Fulham who had the only real late chance, with Willian’s free-kick tipped onto the bar by Meslier.