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Meslier wows with absolutely ridiculous save before Bellingham’s winner ends in-form Leeds’ run

Illan Meslier wows with an absolutely ridiculous save before Jobe Bellingham’s winner for Sunderland ends in-form Leeds’ run.

The goalkeeper’s heroics kept the scores level as the Black Cats ramped up pressure in the first half of Tuesday night’s Championship fixture at the Stadium of Light.

Leeds started the brighter side, however, Sunderland’s Jack Clarke started causing problems, with Archie receiving a yellow card for bringing down the winger down on the 28th minute.

Illan Meslier made a sensational save when diving full stretch to his left, clawing out Seelt’s header following a Pritchard corner into the box. Footage of it has since done the rounds online…

Sunderland eventually got their equaliser in the 78th minute with Jobe Bellingham, 18, getting his fourth goal of the season when reacting sharply, heading a bouncing ball past Meslier from four yards out.

The 1-0 victory ended Leeds’ seven-game unbeaten run to make it two league wins from two for Sunderland’s interim head coach Mike Dodds.

The stadium was absolutely rocking come full time, with home fans showing just how much they highly regard Dodds, who has been in temporary charge since Tony Mowbray’s departure.

Sunderland caretaker Mike Dodds: “Both [Bellingham] brothers have a very similar mindset in terms of their relentless pursuit of where they want to get to. He [Jobe] made a really brave and tough decision to leave Birmingham, the club he supported all his life. Thankfully from my perspective, it looks like he’s made the right decision and I’m sure he would reiterate that. But it is tough for him, it is tough for him. And it will only get easier as he gets credit in the bank for himself.

“I think it speaks volumes for Jobe that as an 18-year-old boy in the Championship, he could play as No 9 against West Brom on Saturday and then a 10 against Leeds tonight. That shows what quality and class he has and just highlights what a fantastic talent he is regardless of the name on the back of his shirt. I think he can go to the very top. I’ve worked with a lot of young players and he would be up there with the very best I’ve worked with.”

“I’ve not had enough time to process what’s actually happened. It’s been a whirlwind since last Tuesday. I knew how much effort I’d have to put in to prepare for these games and I’m tired. I’ve got a day off tomorrow and I’m going to spend the day Christmas shopping and trying to switch off. Then Thursday will be business as usual in terms of preparing for Saturday.”

Jobe Bellingham said post-match: “To be honest, I couldn’t tell you much about it. I didn’t see much. I just ran in, headed it, hoped for the best and got cladded, to be honest. So, yeah, but now I’m always trying to find space in the box. I had a goal disallowed the other day, so that added motivation, really, to go and score. So, yeah, I’m pleased.

Interviewer: “Does it make up for it, having that gold disallowed?

Bellingham: “I could have a few more. But, hey…”

Interviewer: “Tell us about your role tonight because obviously you were a fair bit deeper than you were at the weekend.”

Bellingham: “Yeah, well, today I think the game required me to go deeper. If that’s what the game requires, you have to do it. Like I said to you before, I could use my skill set to play up front in midfield, even out wide as well. So I’ll just play anywhere where the manager and the coaches want me to play and I’ll work my hardest.”

Interviewer: “Mike Dodd. So he’s someone that you’ve known for such a long time from Birmingham as well. He’s making a real impression, isn’t he? Two wins out of two.”

Bellignham: “Yeah, well, it’s no surprises for everyone at the club, really, because he’s a top coach and he’s such a smart guy. He’s really caring and all the players have taken well to him since he’s come here and that was something that I always knew because I had Birmingham and I loved him there. So, yeah, he’s a big help for all of us lads and he gets the tactical stuff spot on like he did today again.

Interviewer: “You said last week, though, you don’t want him to get too cocky. You’ve got to keep his feet on the ground.”

Bellingham: “Yeah. Just make sure he doesn’t have sky so he can’t watch this, because if he is, he’ll be big headed all week.”

Leeds manager Daniel Farke said: “Congrats to Sunderland for a great defensive effort. In general, I am struggling to criticise my lads too much. Clear we had a difficult away game today. We dominated this game in many periods. For us to have nearly 60 per cent possession, more than 70 in the second half. Did not find the cutting edge today. Created so many chances in the past, but the final pass tonight, we were not tidy or sharp enough.

“They tried to park the bus and counter-attack. Whenever we shot, they had bodies to block. One of those days when you did not find the tidiness or sharpness to be there with a chance. We did not score. Difficult tonight because they were sitting so deep. 0-0 second half., Summerville through, if he goes down it’s red card and we wait to find the goal. I like his attitude, but it was probably the wrong decision to stay on his feet.

“First half, gave away two chances to set-pieces. Second half pleased how we defended. Did well to defend everything. Struggling to accuse my lads for this goal. Seven lads in our box, defend the cross and Pritchard somehow bounces the ball back in for them to score.

“Key today we did not find this moment to score.“

Twitter users gave their reaction as Meslier wows with an absolutely ridiculous save before Jobe Bellingham’s winner ends in-form Leeds’ run…

ON MESLIER:

@Powell_Matthew: That Meslier save in the first half was absolutely ridiculous by the way. Probably one of the best saves I’ve seen at the SOL. I was right behind it and still can’t believe he kept it out 🫣

@JamesP2111: Check out silly bollocks celebrating thinking they’d scored…

@AshmanJase: the best save i’ve seen at the stadium of a light in a lot of years 🤝 👏

@Anthzny: Jumped out me seat to celebrate, some boy to stop that mind!! #SAFC

@JonnyGoldsmith2: Save from Meslier was world class btw.

@_Joelufc: Meslier fuck me some save that

@James_Ashton22: I’m a #Sunderland fan but WHAT A SAVE from Meslier…. even I can applaud that! 👏 #SUNLEE

@wraggywragg: What was so unbelievable about that outstanding Meslier save was that Andy Fucking Hinchcliffe wrote it off because the header wasn’t a ‘bullet one’ 🥴

@JimHutchy: How did Meslier keep that out 🦸‍♂️

@rjwsimpson: You know how good a save it is when the opposition have already started celebrating!!!

@JamesFildes1: Wow it looked unreal from the stands but that is unbelievable

ON BELLINGHAM:

@TezBirkett: This two brothers could rule football one day promising young lads these too watch out football world

@younge199: What a lovely lad he seems.

@anorthernbullet: Superb player, great chap

@WesleyA78521123:
Death
Taxes
Bellinghams scoring
In that order.

@DeccJoness: He’s gonna be a baller like his bro

@adil121135: Imagine how much more he’d look like his brother if he got 8 hours of sleep every night.

@JoshBew95: Glides across the pitch, covers so many yards and can play in just about any position you want. The boys only just fucking turned 18. Opposition fans love to use the “Living off his brother” shout but they couldn’t be any more wrong.

@ElliottSAFC: What a player lead the line on sat and sat back in a deeper role and pressed today. Also the covering tackle to help Clarke out late on was excellent. Levels above his years

@RamseySAFC: Still can’t believe we managed to get him. Going to the very top of the game. #SAFC

@charlien17rated: Who brought up the Bellingham’s . They are self assured , humble and comfortable in their own skin. It’s disgusting

@JackDunn1973: Always speaks to well and confident for a young lad ❤️

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