Leeds United captain Pascal Struijk has come to the defence of teammate Illan Meslier following a bizarre goalkeeping mishap, claiming that a substantial "dent" in the Sunderland pitch contributed to the mistake.

The Whites appeared on course for a vital away victory against Championship leaders Sunderland. Junior Firpo’s second-half strike seemed to have secured the win until a dramatic late free-kick incident unfolded.

Leeds were holding firm six minutes into stoppage time when Preston’s Alan Browne sent a ball into the box—normally a routine catch for a goalkeeper of Meslier’s calibre.

However, a miscalculation in the ball’s flight caused Meslier to completely miss it, much to the frustration of the travelling Leeds supporters, leading to a fluke equaliser for the Black Cats. Struijk, a close friend and colleague, has since shared his thoughts on Meslier’s late error.

The defender expressed his faith in Leeds' first-choice goalkeeper, assuring fans that Meslier’s crucial saves will far outweigh any occasional mistakes, according to reports from the Mirror.

He remarked: "Of course, he’s disappointed. He knows that these things, unfortunately, happen in football. I’ve had a look at the pitch, and there’s a massive dent there. I’d have a better chance of winning the lottery than seeing the ball hit that hole and bounce to his right. But we all know what a brilliant goalkeeper Illan is.

"He’ll definitely save us in a few matches, pulling off some outstanding saves. It’s understandable to feel a bit disappointed at the moment, but over the course of the season, he’ll make plenty of important stops."

Sunderland managed to avoid their first home defeat of the season thanks to this last-minute slice of fortune. This lucky escape preserves new manager Regis Le Bris’ unbeaten record, a continuation of his time managing Meslier at Lorient in France.