Frustrated Leeds fans call Illan Meslier a ‘liability’ for 3-3 draw with Portsmouth in the opening day of the Championship season.
Leeds took an early lead, Struijk converting from the spot 10 minutes in, but Portsmouth responded on 24 minutes, Marlon Pack playing a perfect threaded pass to Elias Fritjof Sorensen in the box, who scored from close range to level things up at Elland Road.
Callum Lang put Pompey ahead just before the break, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a half-volley into the corner.
Leeds quickly equalised just minutes into the second half through Gnonto, but Pompey continued to fight back, Lang converting from the spot to put Pompey ahead on 93 minutes.
Just when they thought they won it, Leeds snatched a draw right at the end thanks to Aaronson. Take a look at the highlights below…
Leeds United 3 (Struijk 10’ pen, Gnonto 46’, Aaronson 90’)
Portsmouth 3 (Sorensen 23’, Lang 42’, 90’ pen)
Leeds: Meslier, Bogle, Firpo, Ampadu, Struijk, Rodon, Mateo, James (Piroe 71’), Joseph (Bamford 79’), Georginio, Gnonto (Aaronson 71’), Gruev (Rothwell 71’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Byram, Gelhardt, Wober, Crew.
Pompey: Norris (GK), Williams, Towler, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie, Pack (C), Dozzell (Moxon 74’), Lane (Ritchie 83’), Lang, Silvera (Devlin 45’), Sørensen (Saydee 63’). Subs not used: Archer (GK), Swanson, Stevenson, Lowery, Whyte.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,432
Referee: Oliver Langford
Booked: Rodon, Struijk (Leeds) Lang, Dozzell, Ogilvie, Towler (Pompey)
Danny Bloomer of LeedsUnitedNews wrote: “On another day, Leeds would’ve come away from that game with a comfortable 4-0 victory given the chances they created.
“But it is not even the opportunities missed that is the biggest cause for concern, but the fact they have shipped three goals against a side whose attacks were sparse.
“Portsmouth had four shots on target across the whole match, with the only that didn’t go in from the halfway line that was comfortable for Illan Meslier.
“With that in mind, fingers simply have to be pointed at Meslier, particularly for the first goal. Leeds were in control at that point, and his mistake let Portsmouth back into the game.
“Sorensen’s shot did have a decent amount of power behind it, but that is no excuse.
“It was right at Meslier and once he gets a hand on it, he simply has to be keeping it out.
“Statistically, Meslier was one of the worst shot-stoppers in the Championship last season and it does not look like that will be improving anytime soon.
“Portsmouth scored three goals from an expected goals (xG) of just 0.89, the majority of which will have come from the penalty.
“The very best goalkeepers are ones who can pull off important saves having not had much to do, yet Meslier simply does not do that. Not good enough.
“Leeds should’ve sought a Meslier upgrade this summer.
“It was obvious to many following the end of last season that goalkeeper was a position that needed upgrading, yet Farke seems to have ignored that.
“Meslier had a ‘really shaky‘ end to the 2023/24 campaign and perhaps with a more assured presence behind the defence, Leeds would’ve gone up.
“Though there are still three weeks of the window remaining, it does not look like Leeds will be making a change anytime soon given he has been named vice-captain.
“More performances like today, though, are only going to lead to more question marks against him.”
Lovely goal from Pompey but Meslier HAS to save that… #Pompey🔵 #LUFC⚪️ pic.twitter.com/SApQjfrqbN
— Callum Moseley 💻 (@CallumTDUK) August 10, 2024
Leeds’ Daniel Farke:
“He just got a hug from myself because no words are needed. It’s more like I told him to hold his head up.
“He was probably the most disappointed lad in the dressing room, but he doesn’t have to be because coming back after a difficult season, out on loan, he wants to prove his worth.
“He had a difficult start, one or two mistakes, but he showed great character to fight his way back into this game with lots of effort and scored a fantastic equaliser.
“He could have been the hero then with the second chance because normally a player of his quality scores such a goal.
“He would have sat on the shoulders of his team-mates and everyone would sing his name. But football is like life, it’s never easy.”
Portsmouth’s John Mousinho:
“I thought it was going to nestle in the back of the net. I was really relieved.
“Having said that if we had lost it wouldn’t have changed the performance. I was grateful it went wide, we got away with one there.”
After guiding the south-coast club to the League One title in his first full season in charge the former Oxford and Wycombe midfielder was delighted by his side’s display in their first second-tier game in 12 years.
Mousinho added: “I am happy. Both sides will come off disappointed with the result.
“Leeds had the better chances and I’m guessing the takeaways (are they have) got to defend a bit better and put the ball in the back of the net.
“Leeds have some really good athletes, multi-million pound players who may go in the next few weeks. If I’m a Premier League manager, I’m definitely snapping up one or two of them after today.”
Frustrated Leeds fans call Illan Meslier a ‘liability’ for the 3-3 draw with Portsmouth…
@Ashleyychapman: Thoughts on the game now the 3 hour drive has finished, Meslier fucking useless, Bogle fucking useless, the depth off the bench is a shambles, Farke still has no idea how/when to make a substitution. The first 3 subs completely killed the game for us going forward. We’re back
@whoisdougie: Today is the exact reason why big sam dropped Meslier at the end of our final prem season. He saw he was a liability. I know Robles wasn’t any better, but it was a call that had to happen. Meslier needs to go man. Cost us the first goal as well as Bogle. Should have got Rodak.
@LewisDeighton17: Said it in February and I’ll say it again. Meslier isn’t reliable enough and hasn’t been for the most part of two years now. Don’t take lightly to sticking the boot in but he costs us so much. Awful distribution. Doesn’t command his area. Odd camera save and that’s it. #LUFC
@SamBirdyy: As one of Meslier’s biggest defenders these last few years I can’t be arsed with another season of shots going straight through him again
@thesepticlimey: Meslier is appalling, we need a replacement. Farke needs a really strong opening 8 games & be top 2 at that point or there’s no reason to believe he’ll get us up this year either. Play offs won’t do. Just one game but seems to have fixed nothing. Not a good start. #LUFC #MOT
@LufcAlaw:
Struggling to find positives today.
2 wins/10.
No clinical finisher.
Is Rutter more a hindrance?
No dynamic 10 we’ve been crying out for
Rodons passing 🙈
Meslier cant block shots 🙈
3 conceded from 4 shots.
Can’t beat bottom 6 fodder.
Farke will be gone by sept wo wins #LUFC
@DannyPriestley: Absolute shit show. Same as last season, no options to change the game, nobody knows how to break a team down, every opposition shot is a goal. Meslier has tortillas for hands. Fuck off
@LUFCrecy:
Meslier is our main concern
Substitutions were confusing
Rutter was too inconsistent
Midfield again seemed passive
Wings once again made up for the CMs
Need consistency at the 9
@Kris_Lufc7: There’s 45 games left and 80% of that performance sees us win about 30 games but some issues remain – Farke and Meslier mainly. Also i’m sorry but you get better CBs than Rodon for 10m too
@DRobinson87:
Game summary –
• We’ve plenty of attacking threat but need to be more clinical.
• We could have scored 6/7
• Bogle looks a bit ropey defensively
• Farke’s subs were wrong. Taking Gnonto/James off killed us.
• Meslier and that near post of his – concern
#lufc
@PCELUFCXX: Why the fuck are we sticking with Meslier?
@L33D5WF2: Sooner we get rid of Meslier the better, he’s fucking shit
@NeilHansonLufc: #Lufc Please don’t let our season be ruined by Meslier mistakes, my Gran could have saved their 1st and she’s dead. #mot
@LufcApl: Chat, We need to stop giving Meslier a pass. It can’t continue, it’s enough. They had 4 shots on target and scored 3 goals. As a GK, his fundamentals are off and getting worse as the seasons go on. Being young and tall doesn’t make you good. #lufc
@Robertkas88: can’t actually believe what I have just watched, most Leeds United performance ever and then that missed chance at 3-3 sums day up!! Meslier made a big error let them back in game he should save that 100/100 times, missed too many chances and there’s wasn’t a pen 45 games to go 🤨
@MSeeley_: We must replace meslier #LUFC
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