EAVES LATE SHOW
Calamity Casilla’s vote of confidence
MARCELO BIELSA is planning to stand by Leeds’ calamity keeper Kiko Casilla.
Bielsa says Casilla will keep his place for today’s promotion clash against Bristol City at Elland Road, despite his latest costly blunder.
The former Real Madrid player was at fault for the goal scored by Said Benrahma in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.
It was the fourth time in the past two months he has made a gaffe that has led to a goal.
“I don’t ignore the mistakes Kiko’s made,” said Leeds boss Bielsa. “They are evident.
“It is also true the consequences of his mistakes are linked with the results of the team. I give credit to
TOM EAVES snatched an equaliser five minutes into stoppage time to earn Hull a point in a dramatic finish at the KCOM.
Eaves slid in at the far post to convert a low cross from the left and send the home fans into raptures.
A topsy-turvy game saw Leonardo Da Silva Lopes give Hull an early lead before Wayne Routledge levelled. Marcus Maddison restored the
Kiko because in the same matches where he made mistakes, he kept confidence in himself.
“Other goalkeepers, when they fail, in the next situation they are between the posts, they don’t come out any more.
“Others, when they give a bad pass, after that they start to play long.
“And when they make mistakes, they lose the confidence of their team-mates.
“Sometimes when players realise the keeper has made a mistake, they don’t give him the ball anymore. home team’s lead five minutes into the second half, but Kyle Naughton equalised.
MallikWilks once again put Hull in front, only to see Swansea hit back through Jordon Garrick in the 77th minute and Rhian Brewster seven minutes later.
But, just when Swansea seemed safe, up popped Eaves.
PRODIGAL son Romaine Sawyers is the boy who came home to fulfil his dream.
And after the hearts and flowers of Valentine’s Day, he is within sight of a happy ending to “the perfect love story”.
At 21, Sawyers left West Brom, the club he supported as a boy and where he graduated through the academy, without kicking a ball for the first team. Seven years later, the kid who was forced to seek his fortune elsewhere is back, pulling the strings in midfield like he’s playing a golden harp.
Manager Slaven Bilic’s £2.9million outlay to bring Sawyers, now 28, home from Brentford looks a steal. Six points clear at the summit, Albion can take another giant stride towards the Premier League in today’s home date with fellow promotion chasers Nottingham Forest.
“Going up would be the perfect love story,” said Sawyers. “As a
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are sweating on top scorer Lewis Grabban’s ❑
fitness ahead of today’s lunchtime showdown with leaders West Brom. The striker is struggling with a knee injury.
Grabban has banged in 16 goals this season to take Sabri Lamouchi’s side into the play-off places. He did not play in Tuesday night’s home defeat by Charlton and was missed.
Boss Lamouchi warned his players yesterday: “We are not here to make friends. I need to do my job, they need to do their job.”