“It’s very harsh to judge him after one game and one goal, He would be very difficult to replace, If I was judged on one game or one goal, I may not have had much of a career”- Paul Robinson defends Illan Meslier as he calls out Leeds fans for criticizing goalkeeper after Portsmouth draw

Paul Robinson has defended Illan Meslier from criticism from fans after the Leeds United goalkeeper was slammed in the 3-3 draw against Portsmouth on Saturday (10 August).

An Elias Sorensen strike looked to squirm under the 24-year-old, allowing Pompey a route back into the game after Pascal Struijk’s opener from the penalty spot.

The two sides played out a thrilling draw at Elland Road, though there was little the Frenchman could do about Portsmouth’s other strikes. Still, much of the post-match talk remained on the shot-stopper.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “He’s a good goalkeeper and I think he got better last season. Towards the end of the Premier League season, he lost his place in the team. He was outstanding in his first season under Marcelo Bielsa.

“Last year, the season in the Championship did him the world of good. After one game, you can’t just jump on the bandwagon. He’s a very good keeper, who has matured. He has an understanding with the back four, a relationship with the club, and he’s a very talented player.

“He would be very difficult to replace. After one game and one goal, it’s very harsh to judge him. If I was judged on one game or one goal, I may not have had much of a career.”

There are few goalkeepers that Leeds would be able to replace Meslier, especially with only a few weeks remaining in the transfer window.

The 24-year-old has been a long-standing servant for the Whites since making his initial loan spell permanent in the summer of 2020, making 167 appearances since.

While Meslier did keep the joint-most number of clean sheets in the Championship last season, tying with West Brom’s Alex Palmer on 18, he did have the seventh-worst save percentage [FotMob].

Though there is a case to be made around the shot-stopper’s ability, the criticism from the 3-3 draw against Pompey cannot lay single-handedly on his shoulders, with the rest of the team equally at fault.