Illan Meslier was responsible for both goals conceded as Fulham produced one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. Javi Gracia’s team entered a stretch of games they may win after giving up 11 goals in their previous two games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Leeds goalkeeper Meslier was primarily to blame for their defeat in west London, which also includes games against Leicester and Bournemouth the following week. Nearing the hour mark of a tight match that was tied 0-0, the Frenchman palmed a cross from Willian straight to Harry Wilson, who slammed it in to score the game’s first goal. Just 15 minutes later, he parried a cross from Antonee Robinson to Andreas Pereira, who finished easily from close range.
Leeds’ Joao Palhinha scored an own goal after Patrick Bamford came off the bench, and while Meslier saved face by brilliantly heading Willian’s free-kick into the crossbar, his strong palms came too late. Leeds has dropped three straight games, has 29 points, and is currently in the thick of the relegation battle. Gracia declined to criticize specific individuals, like Meslier, but claims to have serious problems. Fulham, meanwhile, has now won back-to-back games, moving them closer to the European spots by four points.
Bobby Decordova-Reid and Rodrigo headed their respective teams’ lines as no obvious strikers were used by either team, which may have contributed to the dull, scoreless first quarter. Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham headed a free kick goalward, forcing Meslier into a great reflex save, but the flag was raised for offside. Marc Roca’s free-kick test of Bernd Leno gave Leeds some assurance, but it was the only serious opportunity the visitors had in the first half. In the opening period, Fulham’s playmaker Pereira attempted three long shots, but two of them were blocked by Meslier and one went into the stands due to the midfielder’s lack of deadly instinct.
Just before the hour mark, Fulham scored a breakthrough. Robinson sprinted forward and intercepted Roca’s sloppy throw over the middle before feeding Willian on the left. Wilson was able to score from a loose ball after the Brazilian hung up a cross that Meslier should have been able to handle thanks to a gentle palm. As soon as Crysencio Summerville’s shot at the near post sent visiting fans into a frenzy of excitement before they saw it had hit the side netting, Leeds tried to respond.
When Meslier was rooted to the spot, Pereira’s free-kick from Fulham struck the crossbar. As Leeds pushed forward with bodies, their opponents struck them for a second time on the break. Pereira sent the ball to the rambunctious Robinson, whose cross Meslier palmed right into the path of the Fulham midfielder, who blasted home from a short distance and could not miss. Leno demonstrated to Meslier how to save hard shots by tipping Roca’s attempt from the edge of the box over the bar as Leeds attempted to get back into the game.
However, the pressure from the visitors—aided by the introduction of Luis Sinisterra and Bamford off the bench—led to a stroke of luck when the latter’s errant shot deflected off Palhinha and into the bottom corner. Leeds still had ten minutes remaining before a lengthy eight minutes of added time, but Fulham had the only genuine chance left when Meslier headed Willian’s free-kick onto the bar.
“I weigh all of my alternatives. But I must make a choice. Joel, who I am familiar with from Spain, but I must choose,” Leeds boss Javi Gracia said. “In the game, the players are concentrated. I’m not sure if they were conscious of what they were saying. Like us all, I can sense the supporters’ disappointment. They won’t be there for the next game to support a specific player or manager; instead, they will be there to support the team. We need to. The time to act is now. We cannot question the fact that you don’t have time.”
“We have a goal, and I know that this football team and I will battle until the last end to achieve it,” Fulham boss Marco Silva said. “We went through some rough patches in the middle, but that’s normal. I’m really happy for the athletes. We’ll assault them on Tuesday because we enjoy playing against strong teams away from home. We will be prepared to confront Villa once more.”
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