Wolves v Leeds United: Marco Silvestri pulling out all the stops to boost Leeds United

With good cause, too, as even the slightest of mistakes can result in the ultimate punishment of a goal being conceded whereas a team-mate can get away scott-free from a fluffed pass or mis-timed tackle.

Marco Silvestri, a fully paid-up member of the goalkeeping union since first donning the gloves as a youngster in his native Italy, knows that as well as anyone.

The start of this season saw the 24-year-old make a number of high-profile mistakes that, ultimately, proved costly for Leeds United.

It led to plenty of criticism from the terraces but Silvestri has answered his critics in the best way possible by rediscovering the form that made the Italian such a hit during his first season at Elland Road.

Last weekend, for instance, Silvestri pulled off a couple of fine saves to ensure United left Charlton Athletic with a precious point from a goalless draw.

A fortnight earlier, he had almost single-handedly prevented Queens Park Rangers from inflicting more damage on a Leeds defence that went seriously AWOL during a 1-0 defeat.

Tonight, Silvestri is likely to be busy again as the Yorkshire club head to Wolverhampton Wanderers looking to build some momentum ahead of the busy festive period.

“Criticism is normal in football,” said the Italian ahead of the trip to Molineux.

“Especially at a club like Leeds, because we have a lot of fans and they want us to be the best we can.

“I know that at the start of the season I could play better. But the important thing is now and I have changed my play. I’m very happy.

“Now, I have to grow a lot. I know that. This season, for me, is the most important of my career because it is my second year in England.

“I am more experienced and I know what English football is about. My learning between this year and last year has been very big.

“In the first year, I was a surprise because no-one knew me. But all the fans know me now and the criticism (early in the season) was because last year they saw me play better.

“I had criticism at the start of the season. But I am not angry about that because I think they (the fans) were correct. For me, the criticism was correct because I know what I can do.”

Praise has been showered on Silvestri in recent weeks.

Just yesterday, head coach Steve Evans admitted to having initially had doubts over the Italian on taking charge at Leeds only to now believe: “He is as an assured a goalkeeper as I have seen in the Championship”.

Silvestri, on being told about his head coach’s backing, said: “Thank you to the gaffer, I don’t know if I am a world-class goalkeeper but I am happy that the coach said this.”

Goalkeepers, like fine wine, are often considered to get better with age.

The experience that can only come with playing games helps hone decision-making and awareness, or so the theory goes.

Silvestri is still some way off what is traditionally seen as a goalkeeper’s best years but he insists that age is not the reason why this season did not start as the Italian had hoped.

“Maybe it is true,” he replied when asked about goalkeepers maturing with age. “But it is good if people forget because this is an excuse, I think.

“Yes, I am young, I am 24 but I have to play better than the start of the season - like I am now.”

United’s season has been the very epitome of inconsistent, as illustrated by the past six weeks or so seeing back-to-back victories over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town being followed by disappointing losses to Rotherham United and QPR.

Then, just as the doom-mongers were starting to predict a relegation fight, Leeds beat Hull City and then claimed a battling draw at The Valley.

Victory tonight would see Evans’s men move up four places but only to 14th, another clear indication as to how frustrating the campaign has been to date.

“The team is a good quality,” added Silvestri. “With our quality, we have to be up the table and we need points now.

“We have to be minimum in the middle. We have good players and we are playing well so now the points are coming.

“The Championship is difficult. But with two or three wins, you can go up a lot. We need this. After that the table would be very different.

“We didn’t start good but we can have a lot more points. It is difficult now because we are in the bottom half of the Championship.

“But I think we can move up a lot because the team is good.”

Last six games: Wolverhampton Wanderers LDDDWD, Leeds United WWLLWD.

Last time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 Leeds United 3; April 6. 2015; Championship.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).