DON’T KIK CAS Boss Bielsa says banned keeper no racist
HULL CITY 0 LEEDS UNITED 4
MARCELO BIELSA insists banned goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is not a racist and that Leeds will give him the love he needs.
Bielsa is firmly standing by Casilla after he was found guilty of racially abusing Charlton’s Jonathan Leko and hit with an eight-game ban.
“Kiko is a great human being and a situation like this could affect him,” said the Leeds boss. “But he’s strong and all of us will support him, principally with the love he deserves.
“We admire him for his behaviour with us. He has a brilliant past, nothing negative.
“All of us are against racism or any kind of discrimination and he is the first one. He has always supported minorities.”
Leeds’ travelling support sang in support of Casilla and his replacement, Illan Meslier, produced a solid display on his second Leeds appearance two days before his 20th birthday. Meslier’s handling was assured and except one pass out of play, his kicking was faultless.
Leeds ensured the Frenchman, signed on loan from Lorient, had little to do as they steamrollered Hull to make it four successive wins without conceding to strengthen their promotion bid.
There were man-of-the-match candidates all over the pitch from Luke Ayling to Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez to Mateusz Klich.
Leeds scored after five minutes when Hernandez fed Ayling just under 30 yards out and his shot was deflected off Callum Elder’s left arm into the bottom corner.
This was the last thing Hull, already low on confidence, needed and Leeds went close to a second when Hernandez fired against the underside of the bar.
Leeds eased up and did not play with their trademark intensity until the second half when they scored within two minutes of the restart.
Elder failed to clear Harrison’s cross to the back post from the left and Helder Costa slipped in Hernandez, who turned and shot home right-footed into the far corner.
Hull keeper George Long prevented Leeds from winning by a cricket score and he saved from Costa and Klich.
Norbert Balogh shot against the post on his home debut and that was as good as it got for Hull. Long continued to defy Leeds almost single-handed and saved from Costa and Harrison, who also hit the post.
The industrious Harrison then won possession in the left-back position to launch a counter-attack, which culminated in Klich feeding Tyler Roberts to shoot home on 80 minutes.
Klich combined with Roberts to score the fourth four minutes later when the Pole crossed for the striker to net with a
HULL CITY LEEDS UTD 2 ........ Shots on Target ......... 8 3 ........ Shots off Target ......... 5 3 .......... Blocked Shots ........... 4 5 ................ Corners ................ 11 13 ................. Fouls .................. 13 1 ................ Offsides .................. 1 65.7.. Passing Success...78.8 245 ....... Total Passes ........ 504 32.9 ........ Possession .......... 67.1 56.1 ..Territorial Adv%...43.9
diving header. Hull are in danger of relegation after two points from their last 10 league games and boss Grant McCann, who is missing 10 players, admits they’re in a bad way.
“The first goal was a deflection and that’s the way it’s going for us, but we’ll keep going, we’ll keep working and fighting,” he said. “This result will not define our season and we’ve some big games coming up.
“The early goal has knocked us a bit but we hit back. There was very little in the first half.
“The goal just after half-time knocked the confidence. Second half that early goal has thrown it all up in the air.
“They are a top team and there is no doubt they will probably go on to get promoted this year.”