Liam Cooper sends Karl Darlow message after Illan Meslier replaced at Leeds United
Karl Darlow received reactions after keeping a clean sheet in his first start since replacing Illan Meslier in Leeds United’s starting eleven against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Following a series of calamitous errors this season from Meslier, Daniel Farke addressed the uncertainty surrounding his goalkeeper selection earlier in the week.
The 48-year-old suggested that the “timing was right” to take the French keeper out of the firing line and give Darlow an opportunity in the Leeds net.
The Whites came away with an important three-points in the Championship title race, with Daniel James‘ goal after two minutes enough to give them a 1-0 win, in spite of the visitors having two goals incorrectly ruled out for offside.
Darlow’s Leeds teammates rally around him after clean sheet
In a post via Instagram on Wednesday (9 April), Darlow posted a picture of himself celebrating his sides victory alongside an image of the Leeds players clapping the away support following full-time, saying: “Away day wins” with a love heart eyed emoji.
In response to the post, the 34-year-old shot stopper received a message of encouragement from his teammate Junior Firpo, who said: “Well done KD” with a clapping emoji.
Former Leeds captain, now at CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, Liam Cooper also reacted to the post with a comment: “Well done brother” alongside two clapping emojis.
Leeds back on course to secure automatic promotion
Football Insider Verdict
After a difficult spell which saw Leeds draw three games in a row, they got their automatic promotion chances back on track with an excellent performance at Middlesbrough.
Manor Solomon and James combined in the opening exchanges in what turned out to be the winning goal, however it was the decisions of the officials which made the headlines once more.
Ao Tanaka saw his goal before the break ruled out for offside, with the replays clearly showing the Japan International timing his run perfectly.
The controversy did not end there, as when the away side believed they had killed the game off in the later stages, Patrick Bamford was next to see a goal wrongly disallowed.
Luckily for Farke’s men, they held firm to take back control of the Championship title race once more.