Leeds vs Sheffield United: How will Illan Meslier get back on his feet? Sounds ready for emotional night | Football News

Friday night's final Championship game on Sky Sports was an undisputed classic as Leeds denied a win at Sunderland after a long spell.

It was a do-or-die game and the first second division game after the international break promises something similar as Leeds host unbeaten Sheffield United – both aiming to take Sunderland's place at the top of the Championship.

Here we take a look at some of the talking points leading up to the climactic conflict…

Friday, October 18th, 7:00 p.m

An emotional night at Elland Road

It will also undoubtedly be an emotional evening as the Blades pay tribute to former club hero George Baldock, who tragically passed away last week aged just 31.

Baldock left Bramall Lane in the summer after seven years, having played an important role as a full-back in two promotions to the Premier League. His untimely death left coach Chris Wilder, who brought him to the club in 2017, “stunned and numb”.

The Blades are on the road for their next two games and will pay their respects to Baldock at Bramall Lane next Saturday.

The top of the table

How will Meslier react to his mistake?

It was a howler that went viral. A mistake from Illan Meslier that has undoubtedly given him sleepless nights ever since.

Somehow, with virtually the last shot of the game, the Leeds goalkeeper completely missed a Sunderland set-piece catch and saw his side's hopes of all three points literally disappear.

Leeds have stopper Karl Darlow in the starting blocks, but Daniel Farke will undoubtedly go for his number 1. He has still only conceded seven goals in nine games this season and kept five clean sheets. Meslier also has the second best clean sheet record of any goalkeeper in the Championship since 2004 – with 30 in 63 appearances.

The international break came at the worst time for Meslier. No doubt he would have preferred a game next Tuesday night to progress, but instead he had two weeks to think about how what happened happened.

It will be fascinating to see how he reacts, although Farke was keen to downplay the situation in his pre-match press conference.

“He is experienced,” said the Leeds coach. “We didn’t have to analyze it too much. It was a situation – something like that happens once in a lifetime. The most disappointed player in the dressing room (was Meslier). You suffer for two or three days, then you get on with it.”

Sky Sports Pundit Andy Hinchcliffe, meanwhile, she said Essential EFL Podcast He believes it could actually have a galvanizing effect in Leeds.

“In a weird way, it might actually bring the locker room closer,” he said on the website Championship comeback.

“Yes, it cost them a few points, but it's the human aspect. The players can strive for (Meslier) knowing that they could have been the ones who made the mistake.”

“This could make the locker room stronger if everyone pulls together.”

With the Blades, Wilder has his sharpness back

Wilder and Sheffield United simply fit hand in hand. After disappointing spells at Middlesbrough and Watford damaged his reputation in League Two, he returned to the Blades last season and is looking back to his best.

He couldn't stop the slide towards relegation, but this season he has given the team new impetus and he looks back to the figure he was a few years ago when they stormed for promotion and then in the top half of the Premier League landed.

The system is slightly different. The central defenders no longer overlap and a 5-3-2 with a functioning midfield has become a free-flowing 4-2-3-1.

Wilder and his team already lost a two-point deduction at the start of the season. It's the only thing keeping them away from the top of the league.

Gnonto comes to the fore

It's easy to forget that Wilfried Gnonto is only 20 years old.

After all, Gary Neville once praised him as a “Manchester City winger” during his time in the Premier League, and considering he's a 13-cap Italy international, it's a real surprise that he got a second season in the Premier League plays the championship.

At the start of last season following Leeds' relegation he wanted to leave but eventually fought back to secure his place in the team. This season, after the departures of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, he is their main attacking force with two goals and four assists already.

He'll need to put in a performance like Summerville if he wants to get Leeds and himself back into the Premier League, especially as the rest of the attacking team continues to mold and shape around him. Largie Ramazani has looked very promising on the left since his arrival and Joel Piroe scored his first goal as a starter after coming on three times as a striker against Sunderland.

However, Gnonto may not be taking part in the penalty shootout any time soon! This week he fired a goal over the crossbar for Italy's U21s.

A Sheff Utd midfielder full of skill and steel

While Sheffield United's old style of play under Wilder relied on a functioning workhorse midfield to support the rest of the system, they now draw all their creativity from the middle of the park.

Gustavo Hamer caused a sensation on his return to the second division. He has all the makings of a Premier League midfielder and has already contributed four goals and an assist.

He also has an excellent relationship with Callum O'Hare from their time at Coventry, who provides real flair in the attacking midfield at Bramall Lane in the summer. They have a certain symbiotic connection and can be deadly when counterattacked.

But there is also a rear base behind it. Vini Souza and Ollie Arblaster provide protection in midfield, ahead of Anel Ahmedhodzic and Harry Souttar. Two central defenders who feel comfortable on the ball and are both over 1.80 meters tall. It's no big surprise that Sheffield United are still unbeaten and have only conceded three goals all season.

Will either of them take over Sunderland's top spot?

Since Sunderland won't be in action until Sunday, we'll then move on live to Hull City Sky Sports Football, This is an opportunity for both sides to become new leaders.

Leeds would need to win by three goals, but a win of any kind would see them level with at least the Black Cats and Sheffield United on 19 points.

The Blades only need a single point to jump above the Black Cats, belying their two-point deduction. However, there is no doubt that Wilder will want all three. Just like he did on his previous two trips to Elland Road.

It will be a fascinating encounter. The construction begins Sky Sports Football on Friday evening at 7 p.m.