Leeds held on for a massive 1-0 win against Reading in the Championship on Tuesday night and BBC pundit Noel Whelan hailed goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell as “brilliant”.
The young keeper made a top-quality save from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to secure the three points after it looked like Leeds were set for heartbreak.
Barry Douglas gave the foul away and admitted afterwards it was a tired tackle but Peacock-Farrell saved him any more agony.
Talking on BBC Radio Leeds, commentator Adam Pope said “These are the moments that make a season! What a save Noel Whelan!”
Former Leeds player Whelan said breathlessly, “Absolutely brilliant!”
? “THESE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT MAKE A SEASON!”
? Relive #LUFC’s dramatic 1-0 win over Reading with @APOPEY & @NoelDavidWhelan…
? …including THAT Bailey Peacock-Farrell late penalty save! pic.twitter.com/8JGDGXEr0d
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) November 27, 2018
OPINION
There is so much going for Bailey Peacock-Farrell. His distribution is fantastic – the best in the Championship. And his shot stopping is exceptional too. He proved that last night when it looked like Reading would snatch a point at the death from the penalty spot. The one question mark is his positioning from set pieces and the propensity to drop a clanger in the box. If he can focus and eliminate these weaknesses from his game then Leeds will have a proper goalkeeper, capable of playing with them in the Premier League. Fans have been on his back for the past few weeks but that’s normal when your team isn’t winning games fans think they should. Mistakes by the goalkeeper can be magnified and the pressure was intensified on Peacock-Farrell when manager Marcelo Bielsa said he was going to drop him for the Bristol City game. He won’t be dropped for the Sheffield United game now and he’ll be hoping that when Leeds look for a new keeper in January, that it will be as back-up for him and not a new number one.