Leeds United dropped more points in the race for promotion after a 2-2 draw against Swansea City, in which there were two last-gasp goals, one for each side.
The Whites are now two points behind Championship leaders Sheffield United and level on points with third-place Burnley. They are in serious danger of dropping into the playoffs before long.
It was the perfect start for Daniel Farke’s side, who scored in the first minute. Attacking midfielder Brendan Aaronson, who has struggled for consistent form this term, ended his eight-game goal drought with a strike inside the six-yard box, latching onto the end of a loose ball.
Just over ten minutes later, goalkeeper Illan Meslier pulled off a brilliant penalty save to deny Josh Tymon from 12 yards, and it took the Swans until the 64th minute to finally draw level. Harry Darling pounced on a mistake from the Leeds goalkeeper from a corner to equalise.
Young attacker Wilfried Gnonto thought he had won Leeds the game just one minute after stepping on the pitch in the 85th minute. It was a thunderous strike, running onto a clearance from a corner and firing home into the back of the net.
However, Swansea scored a late equaliser through Zan Vipotnik, which was another strike Meslier could have done better with.
Meslier’s stats vs. Swansea
It was very much a mixed bag of a game from Leeds’ number one. On the one hand, he saved a penalty, guessing correctly and diving low to his left to keep out Tymon. However, he made a huge blunder for the Swans’ first goal and should have done better with the second.
His mistake for the goal from Darling was really poor. Meslier rose highest to claim the corner but dropped the ball and spilled it into the defender’s path, who gratefully poked home.
For the equaliser, the strike went under Meslier’s outstretched right hand, another effort he could have saved.
One person who was critical of Meslier’s performance was Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson. He gave the Frenchman a 4/10 for his showing, explaining that he made ‘yet another blunder’ for the Swansea goals, something he seems to do far too often.
As poor as Meslier played against the Welsh outfit, he was by no means the only Leeds player who struggled. In fact, someone at the other end of the pitch also put in a disappointing performance.
The Leeds player who struggled vs. Swansea
Playing against your former club can bring the best or worst out of a player. Well, for former Swans star Joel Piroe, who played 96 games and scored 46 goals for Saturday’s visitors, he certainly struggled.
The 25-year-old Dutchman never really got into the game against his former club, and although he had one effort saved in the second half, he was largely not involved in the game. He received a 5/10 from Johnson, who said he said he ‘didn’t do much’, particularly after his strike.
Indeed, that is reflected in his stats via Sofascore. The former PSV Eindhoven striker had just 37 touches in the game and completed just 70% of his passes. Off the ball, he won just two of his ten attempted duels. It was a really tough day at the office for Piroe.
Perhaps this performance will raise concerns about his suitability to the Premier League. The top flight is no doubt a step up, and although he has managed 15 goals this term, his lack of involvement in the overall game today might become an issue for Farke.Just as Meslier’s future will surely be questioned after this game, perhaps a few more disappointing performances from Piroe, who has now gone five games without a goal, will also raise similar questions.
Two have two key individuals underperforming at either end of the pitch really is cause for concern, with Leeds in very real danger of missing out on automatic promotion once again.
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