Nathan Blake criticized Baris Alper Yilmaz’s appeal for a penalty following an incident with Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow during the match against Turkey. The Red Dragons faced off at the Kadir Has Stadium in the UEFA Nations League, with the 34-year-old Darlow starting in goal.
Despite Darlow’s aggressive punch away of the ball early in the game, which caught the Turkish winger, Blake, speaking on BBC Radio Wales, immediately dismissed Yilmaz’s claims. “Yilmaz, you never get those calls,” he remarked. “As soon as I saw the keeper coming out, there was no point in going down. Unless he literally knocks you out, you’re not getting a penalty for that.”
Darlow, seeking more playing time, moved from Newcastle United to Leeds United in the summer of 2023. Last season, he only made four appearances for Leeds in their failed promotion bid. Currently serving as Meslier’s backup, Darlow’s time on the field has been limited to cup matches. Meslier, the first-choice goalkeeper, has shown promise despite occasional errors, such as the mistake against Sunderland that cost them points.
Despite feeling unfairly overlooked after Meslier’s blunder, Darlow appears resigned to his role as second fiddle under manager Daniel Farke at Leeds United.
