Ben Foster criticises one Leeds player after loss at Everton

Add as preferred source on Google

Ben Foster has told his YouTube channel that he would be apologising to his teammates if he made the mistake Illan Meslier made in Leeds United’s loss to Everton at the weekend.

Leeds produced an abject performance at Goodison Park on Saturday. There was a sense of inevitability about the defeat, with the Whites struggling to create anything of note during the contest.

And yet, it was actually only a freak goal which settled the game. Seamus Coleman scored from the tightest of angles to break the deadlock in the second-half.

Ben Foster criticises Meslier for mistake against Everton

There is a debate being had about whether Coleman meant to shoot. He took the shot from the most audacious position. However, it must be noted that there was hardly anything in the box for the right-back to hit.

And Meslier took up a poor position. He was anticipating that Coleman would cross the ball. And thus, he could only look on as the strike went past his left shoulder and into the back of the net.

It was a moment to forget for Meslier. And Foster admitted that he would struggle to applaud the Everton man for the goal.

“It’s still a mistake actually, it is,” he told his YouTube channel. “As a goalie, I would be coming in at half-time or full-time, and I’d be going: ‘sorry lads, I messed up there, I shouldn’t do that’.

“Because first and foremost, like you say, you have to protect the goal. You can’t just let him stick it in there.”

Meslier is one player who can be proud of his performances this season. The Frenchman has looked to be back to his best during this campaign. And he has come up with some massive displays.

So it is hard to be too critical about that one mistake in isolation. Ultimately, Coleman would probably miss that chance nine times out of 10 if put in the same position again.

However, it is agonising that it came in such an important game. It was a terrible result.

Having said that, given how Leeds played, you do get the impression that the Everton goal would have still come later had Meslier simply caught the ball when Coleman had his attempt.