Leeds goalkeeper Ivan Meslier breaks down in dressing room after Sunderland howler cost his team crucial win
DANIEL FARKE revealed Illan Meslier was in tears after his howler at Sunderland.
The Black Cats took an early lead through Chris Rigg but found themselves trailing in stoppage time after strikes from Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo.
That looked to be enough to take Farke’s side level on points with Sunderland but that prospect was thrown away right at the death.
French goalkeeper Meslier let a hopeful, deflected ball from Alan Browne into the box squirm through him to give the hosts a point.
And afterwards his manager admitted: “He is the saddest person in the dressing room, he’s more or less in tears.”
Farke then claimed that captain Pascal Struijk saw the ball bounce unnaturally in front of Meslier, which caused it to spin past him.
However, the Leeds boss says he was unable to confirm if there was a rogue divot at fault or not.
He said: “After such a situation, you don’t need to speak about it – no-one wants to hear any words.
“Pascal came over and said he had never seen anything like this. He said it bounced and jumped in the other direction because there was a mark on the pitch.
“I can’t tell you if that was the case because I wasn’t on the pitch, but Pascal was probably in the best position to see. If it was this, it was unbelievably unlucky.”
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A win would have taken Leeds level on points with Championship leaders Sunderland, but instead they remain three points behind in third, with Burnley in second.
Browne’s ball in went down as an Firpo own goal, but the Republic of Ireland international said he’s “almost embarrassed” to claim it as his own.
Sky Sports co-commentator Don Goodman described the howler as “right up there” in terms of all-time errors.
Goodman added: “It’s a gift, it’s a present. You cant legislate for it. If you are Leeds, how on earth can you legislate for something like this?”
Sunderland’s manager Regis Le Bris was a little more sympathetic to Meslier, who he coached back in their respective homelands at the Lorient academy.
He was spotted speaking to his compatriot on the pitch at full time and said afterwards: “I’m disappointed for him because I like this boy and anyone can make a mistake.
“For a goalkeeper, when you make a mistake, the consequences are very important. It happened and we are happy for the final result.”