Fulham 2-1 Leeds United Highlights
Watch Fulham 2-1 Leeds United highlights as Fulham won 2-1 against Leeds in the premier league premises at Craven cottages at Saturday meetings.
Javi Gracia’s side went into a winnable run of games, which includes matches with Leicester and Bournemouth next week, having conceded 11 goals in their last two matches against Crystal Palace and Liverpool – and Leeds ‘keeper Meslier was largely at fault for their defeat in west London.
With a tense game locked at 0-0 approaching the hour mark, the Frenchman palmed Willian’s cross straight to Harry Wilson to slam home the opener, before parrying Antonee Robinson’s cross right to Andreas Pereira for a simple close-range finish just 15 minutes later.
Leeds have lost three games in a row and remain on 29 points and deep in the relegation fight. Gracia refused to criticise individual players such as Meslier – but says he has major concerns.
“I’m worried about everything,” he said in his post-match press conference. “It’s our third defeat in a row.
“We have to improve all the players, the level of the players. We have to recover the best 11. We have a very important game in three days, we have to be ready.
“I don’t speak about individuals or players. All of them are trying their best, sometimes all the players make mistakes but I prefer to keep the strength of the team or the squad and try to compete.”
Fulham, meanwhile, now have back-to-back wins which has lifted them to within four points of the European places.
Leeds’ confidence grew as Marc Roca tested Bernd Leno from a free-kick but that routine effort was the visitors’ only real chance of the first half.
Fulham playmaker Pereira had three efforts from distance, but two went straight at Meslier and the other went into the stands – the midfielder’s lack of killer instinct summarising the shooting in the opening period.
But Fulham made the breakthrough just before the hour mark. Roca’s poor pass across midfield was intercepted by Robinson, who charged forward and fed Willian on the left.
The Brazilian hung up a cross which Meslier should have been able to deal with – instead a soft palm left Wilson to smash home the loose ball.
Javi Gracia on postmatch interview
Javi Gracia said, “I consider all the options,” he replied. “But I have to decide. Joel, I know him well from Spain but I have to decide.”
“The players are focused on the game,” he said of the chants. “I don’t know if they realised what they were saying.
“I can feel the supporters are disappointed like all of us. I’m sure the next game they will be there supporting the team, they don’t support one player or manager, they support the team.”
Asked if the players believe they can get out of this mess, Gracia said: “We have to. It’s time to do it. You don’t have time and we cannot have doubts about that.
“We have to believe and we did it four or five games ago. It [Tuesday night against Leicester] is a different game in our stadium, it will be different and we can get the victory I’m sure.”
Silva on postmatch interview
Silva Said, Villa’s upturn in fortunes under their Spanish manager mean they have broken into the top six ahead of Fulham – with Silva insisting they will go out and attack the Midlands club on Tuesday, despite the formbook.
“We have the target, we know myself and this football club we are going to fight until the last minute to get our targets.
“We had bad spells in the middle but that’s part of the process. I’m really pleased for the players.
“Next Tuesday we will attack them, we like playing away from home against a good side. We will face Villa in a good shape again.”
