Leeds United fans couldn’t hide their disgust after goalkeeper Illan Meslier was seen embracing Sunderland’s manager just moments after his ghastly error saw his side drop two points last night.
A costly mistake from Meslier gifted the Black Cats an equaliser in the dying seconds of stoppage time as Alan Browne’s attempted cross brushed off Junior Firpo’s head and the ball bounced past the goalkeeper as he tried to collect it.
The ball then rolled into the net to hand Sunderland a valuable point and after the match, Leeds boss Farke insisted he had never seen the like it in his career.
‘I’ve worked for 30 years in professional football, I’ve won and lost many points in the last seconds – lucky and unlucky – but to be honest something like this I’ve not experienced in 30 years of professional football,’ Farke said.
‘To lose those points in this way is heartbreaking, is horrendous, is so sad and disappointing for our lads.
‘I feel for my lads because to this moment they’ve done more or less everything right after such a difficult time.
‘To lose two points in the last moment of the game in this way is heart-breaking and tough to take, it feels like a bit like a loss. Before the game I would have said away to Sunderland is a good result.’
To compound their frustrations, the blood pressure of Leeds fans reached boiling point when their No.1 was seen in brief conversation with Sunderland boss RegisLe Bris.
The pair had worked together at Lorient earlier in their careers, but supporters felt it was inappropriate for Meslier to be seen in apparent high spirits so soon after committing such an horrendous error.
‘Unforgivable,’ said on fan, bluntly. ‘Get him gone.
Another fan said: ‘He won’t play for Leeds again. Not the first time he’s made a howler of this magnitude (or near this magnitude as this one was horrendous) he’ll be at Sunderland before we know it!’
Meanwhile, a Sheffield United fan spotted the incident and remarked: ‘I noticed that. It’s not going to go down well with Leeds fans. A lot will be angry and see this as a slap in the face.’
In an entertaining clash at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland took the lead through teenager Chris Rigg before Joel Piroe levelled with a header.
The visitors took advantage shortly after the break through Firpo’s low strike, which looked to have sealed victory until Meslier’s late error.
‘I’m so proud of how we reacted today, how we played, how we dominated this game in major parts and how rock solid we were in the second half,’ added Farke.
‘So for that, it feels disappointing but I just have compliments for my lads.
‘I think they were excellent. I’m pretty proud of what they have delivered and right now they don’t need me to accuse or to speak about the last moments, they just need an arm around their shoulder because for them it’s also heart-breaking.”
Farke added that no immediate explanation about what happened is necessary from Meslier.
He said: ‘In this moment you don’t have to talk to Illan, he’s the most saddest player in the dressing room.
‘We’ve given him a hug and will leave him alone, he doesn’t have to explain today.’