OPINION
There were many things to blame for Leeds United’s 4-1 loss at the hands of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell was most certainly one of them.
The young goalkeeper was at fault again as Leeds were ripped apart by a rampant Baggies attack, with the 22-year-old particularly susceptible for the second goal of the match.
West Brom forward Matt Phillips took aim from about 22 yards, and while his shot was relatively well-directed, it was most certainly an effort which should have been saved comfortably by Peacock-Farrell.
Instead, the ball slipped under his hands and nestled in the corner, giving West Brom a 2-0 lead which they never looked like surrendering.
While some of the criticism that has come Peacock-Farrell’s way in recent weeks has most definitely been harsh, there is a reason why so many Leeds fans are calling for him to be dropped.
Meanwhile, in the reserves, Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman is continuing to impress, and that will certainly be giving Marcelo Bielsa some food for thought.
While it may seem harsh to drop ever-present Peacock-Farrell at this point in the season, the fact is that there is no room for sentiment in Leeds’ quest for promotion.
Blackman, who stands at a colossal 6’6″ [Transfermarkt], has far more first-team experience than Peacock-Farrell, also being three years senior to the Northern Ireland international.
While he is by no stretch a world-class stopper, the scarcely-seen Chelsea loanee most definitely deserves a go in the first-team, and this is something Bielsa must now seriously consider.
With the international break upon us, the Argentine mastermind has time to closely analyse this decision, and he must dedicate as much of that time as possible to this conundrum.