Leeds United sixfold bad day, actor's Shameless late entrance and a Fulham sprinkler complaint - YEP 23/4/23
Leeds United suffered a third consecutive defeat when they travelled to Fulham on Saturday and produced a third consecutive sub-par performance.
By Graham Smyth
The Whites are entering the business end of the relegation
run-in without form or momentum and there was plenty to worry head coach Javi
Gracia at Craven Cottage. Here's the YEP take on another alarming day for
Leeds.
Good day
Liam Cooper
He won't ever regard it as such, because the team he
supports and plays for lost the game, but Cooper played well. He did all the
vital defensive work you would anticipate and was not at fault for any of the
goals or big chances the hosts created. His aggression and leadership will be
needed again on Tuesday night and the sight of him down needing treatment late
in the second half was a worry.
Bad day
Illan Meslier
For a player coming under increasing fire for his form, this
performance was the last thing Illan Meslier needed. Palming two crosses
straight to Fulham players cost his side two goals. Yes the fires broke out
well ahead of him but he had a hand, literally, in both goals.
Rasmus Kristensen
Willian toyed with him and gave him another torrid afternoon
of Premier League football. Adapting to the English top flight is difficult and
takes time for many players but Kristensen is finding it a particularly
unforgiving education.
Weston McKennie
Struggled to keep the ball, struggled to pass it to
team-mates, struggled to win it back effectively or keep up with Fulham
runners.
Marc Roca
Not quite as poor as his midfield partner perhaps, but not a
great deal better. The pair are having a really tough time of controlling the
opposition or protecting the back four.
Brenden Aaronson
A couple of the challenges on him were fouls and referee
Peter Bankes either missed them or Aaronson suffered because of his reputation.
He has gone to ground too easily too often this season at the slightest
contact, or simply not been strong enough to withstand any level of
physicality. He was bullied out of the game at Fulham.
Javi Gracia
The ironic cheers for Willy Gnonto's arrival and the
constant questioning over the Italian's involvement must be grating for the
head coach but it's a situation few can understand. The performance and result
did not shed a kind light on his team selection and the aggression he wanted in
the press barely registered on onlookers.
Off-camera moments
Michael Skubala and Steve Sidwell's embrace as the Leeds
coach spotted the former Fulham man, working for BT Sport.
Leeds goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad and Bernd Leno's catch
up, before Robin Koch embraced the keeper in the tunnel.
Illan Meslier's Gallic shrug as he petitioned the groundsmen
to turn the sprinkler away from the area where he was warming up. His
unhappiness was hardly alleviated as the game played out. Meslier was not alone
in becoming a target of the sprinkler, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and the BT Sport
team had to swiftly relocate under threat of a drenching.
Marc Roca petitioning heaven as the teams walked out before
kick-off.
Poldark, Shameless and Last Kingdom actor Sean Gilder
causing some of the press box to miss an early Fulham chance through his tardy
arrival in the Johnny Haynes stand.
Mateus Tete's successful bottle flip onto the touchline
during a break in play in the second half. Had he pulled it off in front of the
Leeds fans the response would have been quite so appreciative as the one he
received from home supporters.
