VIDEO: Halloween's come early! Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier left red-faced as HORRIFIC mistake gifts Sunderland last-second equaliser - but team-mates blame dodgy pitch for freak goal

A speculative and poor pass from Alan Browne struck Junior Firpo and appeared to be heading straight into Meslier's grateful arms, until the ball somehow bounced away from the goalkeeper and into the net. On first watch, it appears the goalkeeper completely misjudges the flight and spin of the ball in a calamitous error. After the goal, Meslier went and picked up an object that he believed sent him the wrong way, meanwhile there is a claim that the ball ricocheted off a divot in the pitch and bounced away from the stricken goalkeeper.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke was keen to move on from the dropped points and goalkeeper error, but believes Meslier may have been unlucky. He said: "Normally the goalkeeper takes the ball, clears it and the referee blows the final whistle and the game is won. Pascal Struijk said the ball bounced and jumped completely in the other direction because there was a mark on the pitch. But I cannot tell you if that was the case."

The Leeds captain for the night, Pascal Struijk, said: “Of course he [Meslier] is disappointed, he knows that these things happen in football unfortunately. I’ve looked at the pitch there, there is a massive dent there and I have a better chance of winning the lottery than it goes in a hole and then bounces to his right but we all know what a great 'keeper Illan is."

This would not be the first time that Sunderland have been on the fortunate side of a strange deflection. Darren Bent famously scored against Liverpool with an effort bounced off a beach ball that had been thrown on to the pitch by Reds fans. Leeds and Meslier, however, will be fuming that a nefarious deflection has cost them two points and a chance to go level at the top of the Championship.

Promotion favourites Leeds have made a steady start to their second season back in the Championship but will be disappointed that they did not tie things up at the top on Friday night. Farke's side finished last term with 90 points and lost in the promotion play-off final to Southampton and will be desperate to return to the Premier League this season.