Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has voiced his disappointment in Junior Firpo and the Leeds United players for failing to console Illan Meslier after his late mistake against Sunderland. The error left Meslier feeling “heartbroken” as the Black Cats secured a point thanks to Alan Browne’s goal at the Stadium of Light.
Firpo’s frustration was evident as he stormed off the field at the final whistle. Stelling took to X, previously known as Twitter, to express his thoughts, saying, “It would have been more thoughtful to see some of Meslier’s teammates offering him support after his terrible mistake, especially Junior Firpo!! No one is feeling worse than the goalkeeper.”
Some Leeds fans have criticized Meslier for his reaction at the end of the match. Despite speaking with Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, with whom he shares a history, and sharing a light moment on the pitch, Meslier was reportedly smiling in embarrassment.
Regarding Meslier’s reaction, Stelling added, “To those claiming he was smirking or laughing, he was simply smiling due to embarrassment. What other reaction was expected? Tears?”
Manager Daniel Farke revealed that Meslier was in tears in the dressing room after missing out on the opportunity to level points with the league leaders. Farke expressed his disappointment, stating, “To lose points in such a heartbreaking, horrendous manner is something I have not experienced in my 30 years in professional football.”
He continued, “Losing two points in the final moments of the game is incredibly tough for the team who had performed admirably until that moment. It feels more like a loss considering the effort put in. A draw away at Sunderland would have been deemed a positive result before the game.”
