Leeds United man Illan Meslier is the 18th-best goalkeeper in the Championship and here’s the stats to prove it

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While Leeds United picked up a ninth Championship win on the weekend to go to top of the table, there were still question marks surrounding goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Going into the game, the basic stats of Meslier’s campaign so far looked solid. The Frenchman had kept nine Championship clean sheets in his first 15 league games, conceding only nine goals throughout.

But that turned to 12 on Sunday. The Frenchman could do little about Harry Darling’s opener for Swansea but it is fair to say there are question marks over his positioning for Liam Cullen’s goal, Swansea’s second.

Even Florian Bianchini’s late equaliser, albeit close range, was at Meslier’s near post. Jon Newsome said he noticed Joe Rodon having a go at Meslier again, having done so in the past on a number of occasions.

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke says Leeds player is “proving his worth” after early criticism

The stat that shows Meslier is actually under-performing in goal

The basic stats, compared to other Championship goalkeepers, look good. Meslier has nine clean sheets and that is joint-first alongside Burnley’s James Trafford and Sheffield United’s signing Michael Cooper.

But that does not tell the whole story. Every player plays a part towards a clean sheet, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk crucial to stopping the opposition. A more in-depth stat does not shine light on Meslier.

Indeed, in terms of saving the shots he has faced, Meslier is the Championship’s 18th-best goalkeeper. A worrying percentage of 64.7% efforts at goal denied by Meslier, miles behind Cooper and Trafford.

Illan Meslier is only saving two of every three shots faced

Perhaps, that is part of the reason why Daniel Farke is trying to control games this season and prevent the amount of shots faced. Even then, Paul Robinson doesn’t think he should be dropped for Karl Darlow.

But the stats are damning. He might have the same clean sheets as Cooper and Trafford but he is a long way away in saving shots faced, and that suggests the clean sheet record is down to Rodon and Struijk.

Long-term though, Farke will know that it is an issue that needs sorting. Leeds can protect Meslier in the Championship but should the Whites get promoted, they won’t have the luxury of being able to do that.