Fulham vs Leeds United. Premier League.
Craven CottageAttendance24,356.
Match report and highlights as Fulham won 2-1 against Leeds; Illan Meslier's errors meant Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira put Fulham into a 2-0 second half lead; Patrick Bamford's shot deflected off Joao Palhinha to pull a goal back
Sunday 23 April 2023 10:14, UK
Illan Meslier’s nightmare form continued as his two goalkeeping mistakes meant Leeds' important week in the relegation fight started with a 2-1 loss at Fulham.
Javi Gracia's side went into a winnable run of games, which includes matches with Leicester and Bournemouth next week, having conceded 11 goals in their last two matches against Crystal Palace and Liverpool - and Leeds 'keeper Meslier was largely at fault for their defeat in west London.
With a tense game locked at 0-0 approaching the hour mark, the Frenchman palmed Willian's cross straight to Harry Wilson to slam home the opener, before parrying Antonee Robinson's cross right to Andreas Pereira for a simple close-range finish just 15 minutes later.
Patrick Bamford came off the bench to force a Joao Palhinha own goal for Leeds and while Meslier redeemed himself by superbly tipping Willian's free-kick onto the crossbar, those strong palms came too late.
Leeds have lost three games in a row and remain on 29 points and deep in the relegation fight. Gracia refused to criticise individual players such as Meslier - but says he has major concerns.
"I'm worried about everything," he said in his post-match press conference. "It's our third defeat in a row.
"We have to improve all the players, the level of the players. We have to recover the best 11. We have a very important game in three days, we have to be ready.
"I don't speak about individuals or players. All of them are trying their best, sometimes all the players make mistakes but I prefer to keep the strength of the team or the squad and try to compete."
Fulham, meanwhile, now have back-to-back wins which has lifted them to within four points of the European places.
Both sides lined up without an out-and-out striker as Bobby Decordova-Reid and Rodrigo led the line for their respective teams - which could explain the goalless, lacklustre first period.
Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo forced Meslier into a superb reflex save by heading a free-kick goalwards - but the flag went up for offside.
Leeds' confidence grew as Marc Roca tested Bernd Leno from a free-kick - but that routine effort was the visitors' only real chance of the first half.
Fulham playmaker Pereira had three efforts from distance, but two went straight at Meslier and the other went into the stands - the midfielder's lack of killer instinct summarising the shooting in the opening period.
But Fulham made the breakthrough just before the hour mark. Roca's poor pass across midfield was intercepted by Robinson, who charged forward and fed Willian on the left.
The Brazilian hung up a cross which Meslier should have been able to deal with - instead a soft palm left Wilson to smash home the loose ball.
Leeds immediately tried to hit back as Crysencio Summerville's shot at the near post send visiting fans into wild celebrations - before the they realised it had hit the side netting.
Fulham did not stop either, with Pereira's free-kick smashing the crossbar with Meslier rooted to the spot.
As Leeds committed bodies forward, their hosts hit them on the break for the second. Pereira worked the ball out to the rampaging Robinson, whose cross was palmed out by Meslier straight into the path of the Fulham midfielder, who could not miss as he slammed home from a few yards out.
Leeds tried to come back into the game as Leno showed Meslier how to deal with fierce shots as he tipped Roca's effort from the edge of the box over the bar.
But the visitors' pressure - helped by the arrival of Luis Sinisterra and Bamford off the bench - eventually led to some good fortune as the latter's wayward effort came off Palhinha and into the bottom corner.
But despite Leeds having 10 minutes left before a bumper eight minutes of added time - it was Fulham who had the only real late chance, with Willian's free-kick tipped onto the bar by Meslier.
After the game, Gracia was asked whether back-up goalkeeper Joel Robles - who he knows from his time in Spain - has not been considered as an alternative to the out-of-form Meslier.
"I consider all the options," he replied. "But I have to decide. Joel, I know him well from Spain but I have to decide."
He also addressed questions on Leeds fans' chants against the board and sporting director Victor Orta for failing to build on from last season. At one point, the travelling support sang Marcelo Bielsa's name.
"The players are focused on the game," he said of the chants. "I don't know if they realised what they were saying.
"I can feel the supporters are disappointed like all of us. I'm sure the next game they will be there supporting the team, they don't support one player or manager, they support the team."
Asked if the players believe they can get out of this mess, Gracia said: "We have to. It's time to do it. You don't have time and we cannot have doubts about that.
"We have to believe and we did it four or five games ago. It [Tuesday night against Leicester] is a different game in our stadium, it will be different and we can get the victory I'm sure."
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz at Craven Cottage:
They say in order to have any success in football, no matter at what end of the table you are, you need a good goalkeeper.
Just down the road from Craven Cottage, John Terry once said that Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech earns his title-chasing teams around 10 to 15 points a season.
Yes, goalkeepers can save you points but they can chuck them away too. David de Gea and Aaron Ramsdale realised that on Thursday and Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, it was Illan Meslier's turn.
One flap and one simple push out to Andreas Pereira to tap in for Fulham's second and the game was beyond Leeds.
It is not just Meslier's poor form that is hurting Leeds. The midfield needs a shake-up with Marc Roca, Weston McKennie and Brenden Aaronson making poor passes in the build-up to both goals.
But if you play with those mistakes in midfield, you need your goalkeeper to step up and bail out those errors. Despite a couple of smart stops at Fulham, Meslier is not doing that. He and his defence have conceded a league-high 62 goals this season and only Bournemouth - who conceded nine in one game - are remotely close to them on 59.
With Joel Robles having experience of this dogfight at Everton and Wigan, perhaps it's time for a change in between the sticks.
When Leeds first came into the Premier League, Meslier's style and shot-stopping ability was one of the reasons the club excelled in its first season under Bielsa. Now it looks like he could take them down.
Up next for Fulham is a trip to Unai Emery's Aston Villa in a game which could decide whether the Cottagers' European aspirations could be revived.
Villa's upturn in fortunes under their Spanish manager mean they have broken into the top six ahead of Fulham - with Silva insisting they will go out and attack the Midlands club on Tuesday, despite the formbook.
"We have the target, we know myself and this football club we are going to fight until the last minute to get our targets.
"We had bad spells in the middle but that's part of the process. I'm really pleased for the players.
"Next Tuesday we will attack them, we like playing away from home against a good side. We will face Villa in a good shape again."
Leeds host Leicester City in the Premier League on Tuesday night in a crucial game at the bottom of the Premier League table, kick-off 8pm.
Fulham visit Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on the same day in the Premier League at 7.45pm.
