Meslier struggles again as Leeds drop points to give Burnley boost in Championship promotion race | OneFootball

Leeds goalkeeper Islan Meslier endured a disappointing afternoon as his side dropped points to draw 2-2 with Swansea, allowing Burnley to move level on points with them in the race for automatic promotion.

As it currently stands, with 39 games of 46 played for all teams, Sheffield United are in pole position at the top of the table on 83 points, Leeds are second on 81 points, and Burnley also have 81 points, with Daniel Farke’s Leeds ahead on goal difference.

Only two sides can qualify automatically, and with fourth place Sunderland nine points behind Leeds and Burnley, it seems a safe bet to assume the current top three are the ones battling for the prized top two places.

Chris Wilder’s side got the Championship weekend off to a start, comfortably dismantling Frank Lampard’s in-form Coventry 3-1. Coventry had only lost one in seven before this, and such a convincing win only served to emphasise the Blades as worthy title contenders.

Leeds and Burnley kicked off their games at the same time, with Leeds holding a two-point lead over Burnley at the start of play, but a 2-2 draw with Swansea whilst Burnley picked up a 1-0 win over Bristol City meant they have ended the day level.

The big talking point in the Leeds game was goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has come in for plenty of criticism from supporters this season and once again sttruggled.

Rarely woll a player ever have had as mixed a game as Meslier. He started his afternoon with a penalty save in the 14th minute, but his day went sharply downhill from there. He spilled the ball from a corner for Harry Darling to score, and let the ball straight through him from a very tight angle to concede in the 96th minute and throw away the win.

Burnley, meanwhile, had a Zian Flemming goal to thank for their victory over play-off chasing Bristol City.

Leeds travel to struggling Luton Town in their next game looking to bounce back. Burnley, meanwhile, take on Coventry away while Sheffield United travel to Oxford United with it still all to play for.