Jeff Stelling spoke out against fans who accused Illan Meslier of laughing at his costly error for Leeds United against Sunderland. In a previous criticism, Stelling had also called out Meslier’s teammates for not consoling him quickly enough after the mistake. However, Stelling defended Meslier for trying to find humor in an embarrassing situation, rather than dwelling on the error.
Meslier, 24, allowed a seemingly harmless ball to slip past him into the net in the 97th minute, resulting in Sunderland’s equalizer. Stelling explained that Meslier’s initial shock quickly turned into a smile of embarrassment, a common reaction when faced with a humiliating moment.
Despite Meslier’s error, he had actually performed well throughout the game at the Stadium of Light. The fact that he had taken a knee to the head earlier in the match was overlooked in the aftermath of the late blunder, which may have affected his vision and decision-making.
While the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, there were still positive aspects to take away from the game. Players like Willy Gnonto continued to impress, assisting goals for Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo. The team had shown resilience in coming back from an early deficit against the league-leading team.
Though there are areas for improvement, Leeds United can build on the successes of the match and move forward positively. Despite the disappointment, they can still reflect on the game as a step in the right direction.
