Preston North End 2 Leeds United 1: Illan Meslier's moment of madness costs visitors dearly — Yorkshire Post 26/12/23
Nicknamed 'The Iceman', Illan Meslier's rush of blood cost Leeds United dearly in a damaging defeat at Preston North End.
By James O'Brien
The Leeds goalkeeper's cool head deserted him in a
53rd-minute flashpoint that gave out-of-form Preston the impetus they needed to
take control of a contest that was going nowhere.
After claiming a cross, Meslier went head to head with Ben
Whiteman before shoving Milutin Osmajic in the face.
The Preston frontman fell to the ground and referee Josh
Smith wasted no time in brandishing the red card to leave Leeds down to 10 men
and wondering what had come over their number one.
United rallied and appeared to have earned a point when
Pascal Struijk tucked away a late penalty, only for Liam Millar to crown a
virtuoso performance with a stunning winner a minute from time.
Millar had laid on the opening goal for Alan Browne in the
57th minute with a pinpoint cross before Karl Darlow had even settled in for
his first league shift for the club.
Meslier's red card was as needless as it was reckless and
put Leeds back to square one in the battle for the top two in the Championship.
Daniel Farke's stuttering side got back on track with a 4-0
rout of automatic promotion rivals Ipswich Town, setting up the opportunity to
cut the deficit to four points, at least temporarily.
Leeds remain undefeated at Elland Road but are prone to a
wobble on the road, as evidenced by an insipid fourth away defeat of the
campaign at Sunderland in their last outing on their travels.
If Farke thought United had turned a corner on Saturday, he
was sadly mistaken.
Leeds were facing a Preston team with just one win in seven
games and fresh memories of a 5-1 hammering by Watford in their last home
match.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe called for attitude and application
in front of a full house at Deepdale and got his wish.
Leeds were forced to feed off scraps in a drab first half
befitting a Boxing Day lunchtime kick-off.
If anything summed up United's afternoon, it was the sight
of Ethan Ampadu and Crysencio Summerville laying next to each other after being
clattered in quick succession.
There were only 16 minutes on the clock but Leeds knew they
were in a game.
The visitors failed to test home goalkeeper Freddie Woodman,
even during their brighter spells when they pushed the hosts back.
Summerville sent in two dangerous free-kicks that came to
nothing before Joel Piroe wasted a good opportunity with a weak finish and Dan
James saw an effort blocked after good play down the left by Georginio Rutter.
Millar had a field day on the opposite flank for Preston up
against rookie right-back Archie Gray.
The Liverpool youth product had the beating of the Leeds
teenager from the start and the home side duly kept going back for more.
Whiteman had a shot blocked after Millar got the better of
Gray and the left winger had a go himself minutes later, his curling effort
worrying Meslier momentarily before drifting wide.
Millar continued to try his luck, blazing a shot high into
the Leeds fans behind the goal before forcing Meslier to tip over a goal-bound
strike.
Meslier was called into action again when Browne's free-kick
threatened to creep in at the near post.
After Ali McCann sent a shot over the bar for the hosts,
Ampadu's deflected strike bounced harmlessly into the arms of Woodman in the
last act of the opening 45 minutes.
That was Leeds' only shot on target until Struijk sent
Woodman the wrong way from the penalty spot following a foul by McCann on
James.
United had to come from behind after conceding while the
dust was still settling on the Meslier incident.
Millar sent in a brilliant cross from the left and Browne
directed a header beyond Darlow, whose first job was to pick the ball out of
his net.
Driven forward by Rutter, Leeds responded positively and
sensed an unlikely comeback after taking advantage of anxiety in the home camp
to equalise seven minutes from time.
But Millar had the final word with a sublime curling finish
into the top corner after leaving Gray in his wake.
As early Championship pacesetters Preston celebrated a win
that reignited their play-off bid, Leeds were left to rue Meslier's moment of
madness.