OPINION
Much of the inquest into Leeds United’s first league defeat of the season has centred on the shock first-half hooking of Kalvin Phillips and the impotence of the attack minus a few star performers.
But Leeds could have easily sneaked a win had Bailey Peacock-Farrell not had the kind of nightmare match that happens to all young goalkeepers at some stage of their career.
The Northern Ireland international will reflect he could and should have done far better with the two Che Adams goals that gave Birmingham an iron grip on the match they never relinquished.
Peacock-Farrell appeared to gamble on Adams striking his first finish to the other side of him and also got it all wrong with his positioning for the second goal shortly afterwards.
The 21-year-old Leeds academy product has done better than anyone expected since being fast-tracked into the United first team by Paul Heckingbottom in the final months of last season.
He is a young keeper of great potential and has benefitted from playing regularly over the last six months.
But, Leeds need to get back to winning ways instantly following a first league loss since Marcelo Bielsa took over in the summer.
The Championship leaders’ best chance of doing so is by handing Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman his first league start for the club against Sheffield Wednesday next Friday.
The spotlight will be on the Leeds keeper in the televised clash but 6ft 5in Blackman (source: Transfermarkt) has the skill-set and personality to thrive.
He made a good impression in his two League Cup appearances and is ready to slot straight in after proving his Championship calibre while on loan at Sheffield United last season.
Blackman conceded just 35 goals in 33 Sheffield matches, which included 31 league starts.
He is a class act and ready to seize his opportunity.