Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno is contention for the Premier League’s save of the month of the award after his incredible heroics against Bournemouth.
The German goalkeeper produced a superb double stop to prevent Jefferson Lerma and then Adam Smith putting the Cherries’ 3-1 up on the stroke of half time at Craven Cottage last month. The Whites came back to equalise in the second half through an Aleksandar Mitrovic spot-kick and could count themselves unfortunate not to emerge from an end-to-end encounter with all three points.
Leno gave his recollection of the game’s turning point to Fulham’s official website this afternoon:
It came across after a corner to the back post, short distance, low, I could only parry the ball. Then the second ball came and I behaved a little bit like a handball goalkeeper! It was a reflex, instinctive save. Even when I touched it, I wasn’t sure where the ball was. When I saw it was behind the goal I was very happy because it was 2-1 for Bournemouth. I think if it was 3-1 it would be very difficult to come back, so I was very happy to save that.”
Leno has been nominated for Castrol’s save of the month accolade alongside Kepa Arizzabalaga, Ederson, David de Gea, Hugo Lloris and Dean Henderson. The winner is decided by public vote. You can cast your vote for Leno here until noon at Monday – and the result will be announced next Friday afternoon.
