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One slip – albeit a costly one – will not put diminish Phil Parkinson’s faith in Remi Matthews.
Matthews has been magnificent in his seven matches since taking over from the injured Ben Alnwick.
But, a week after his heroics in keeping rampant Norwich City’s tally to four, he allowed Ezgjan Alioski’s overhit cross to evade his grasp and cross the line for what turned out to be Leeds’ winning goal.
Parkinson is adamant the ex-Canaries stopper has been receiving the backing of his coaches and team-mates and he will be back on song at Swansea this afternoon.
Not that he will have needed much geeing up, judging by his efforts on the training ground this week.
“Remi was disappointed himself, it was a really horrible way to lose what was such a competitive match,” he said. “When you look at it from the other angle the deflection wrong-footed him a bit, but he knows he should have tipped it over. It’s just about how he responds and he has responded really well this week in training.
“He’s been great since he got in the team, he really has. I feel we’ve got a very good keeper on our hands.
“Without a doubt we’ll be backing Remi, he’s been excellent for us. He’s a tough character and all you can do when you’ve had a moment like that is train well.”
Ben Alnwick began this torrid campaign as first-choice goalkeeper, with Matthews having to be content with one League Cup appearance in August and three Championship games in the autumn. Then came his current run in the side.
Alnwick remains out with his back complaint but when he gets back to full fitness, a return to the starting XI is not guaranteed, such has been Matthews’ form. And though a plethora of issues continue to cast a cloud over Wanderers, he does not anticipate any spats, like those shown by Kepa Arrizabalaga in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat.
“Ben’s not ready yet, he’s very close to it but not 100 per cent,” revealed the manager.
“But at least we haven’t had the problem Chelsea had.
“It’s strange how they dealt with that, maybe it wasn’t his injury, it might have been a tactical decision too because [Willy] Caballero has got a good record on penalties.
“It was a strange one.”
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Matthews has been magnificent in his seven matches since taking over from the injured Ben Alnwick.
But, a week after his heroics in keeping rampant Norwich City’s tally to four, he allowed Ezgjan Alioski’s overhit cross to evade his grasp and cross the line for what turned out to be Leeds’ winning goal.
Parkinson is adamant the ex-Canaries stopper has been receiving the backing of his coaches and team-mates and he will be back on song at Swansea this afternoon.
Not that he will have needed much geeing up, judging by his efforts on the training ground this week.
“Remi was disappointed himself, it was a really horrible way to lose what was such a competitive match,” he said. “When you look at it from the other angle the deflection wrong-footed him a bit, but he knows he should have tipped it over. It’s just about how he responds and he has responded really well this week in training.
“He’s been great since he got in the team, he really has. I feel we’ve got a very good keeper on our hands.
“Without a doubt we’ll be backing Remi, he’s been excellent for us. He’s a tough character and all you can do when you’ve had a moment like that is train well.”
Ben Alnwick began this torrid campaign as first-choice goalkeeper, with Matthews having to be content with one League Cup appearance in August and three Championship games in the autumn. Then came his current run in the side.
Alnwick remains out with his back complaint but when he gets back to full fitness, a return to the starting XI is not guaranteed, such has been Matthews’ form. And though a plethora of issues continue to cast a cloud over Wanderers, he does not anticipate any spats, like those shown by Kepa Arrizabalaga in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat.
“Ben’s not ready yet, he’s very close to it but not 100 per cent,” revealed the manager.
“But at least we haven’t had the problem Chelsea had.
“It’s strange how they dealt with that, maybe it wasn’t his injury, it might have been a tactical decision too because [Willy] Caballero has got a good record on penalties.
“It was a strange one.”
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