Brighton hosted Leeds United at the Amex Stadium on Saturday 27th August.
Both sides had started the season well and sat in the top six of the Premier League table, unbeaten after three games. In what is always a tight affair between the two sides, this match would be no different.
For the first 10-15 minutes there was very little in way of chances created by either side, referee Michael Salisbury not allowing the game to flow and made the contest a scrappy affair. The first half-chances came just before the 20-minute mark when Brighton’s Adam Webster headed wide from a set piece and Jack Harrison went on a run only to see his effort blocked and cleared to safety.
The hosts started to look like a threat and Solly March forced Illan Meslier into action on two occasions. His left-footed drives were denied by the Frenchman.
The scrappy play continued and the referee showed yellow cards to Pascal Struijk, Marc Roca and Brendan Aaronson all in quick succession as the free-kick tally continued to rise. A host of chances followed. Webster again failed to hit the target and when Dan James was brought down just outside the box, Rodrigo’s free-kick was deflected wide by the wall. The first half came to an end and Leeds would be the happier side with the score-line as Brighton should have led at the break.
The second half started and both sides remained unchanged. Brighton’s best chance so far came in the early exchanges as March went racing through on goal, one-on-one with Meslier, but the goalkeeper made himself big and pulled off yet another big save to deny Brighton again.
Jesse Marsch decided to make changes to the side near the hour mark and Mateusz Klich replaced the quiet Marc Roca, whilst Luis Sinisterra came on for Dan James. Leeds’s best chance of the game came shortly after and the two substitutes combined, Klich won the ball back and played in Aaronson, who after a weaving run slotted the ball across the six-yard line to find Sinisterra, unmarked at the back post, only to see the Colombian slide the ball past the post and himself crashing into it.
Leeds looked like they were starting to believe in themselves and a few moments later, Aaronson again was involved to create a chance for Rodrigo but his effort was smartly saved by Sanchez in the Brighton goal. Just as Leeds started to assert themselves, the host went down the other end and took the lead. Leandro Trossard picked up possession and played a fine pass across the box to find Gross and he made no mistake with the finish. Slotting past Meslier into the far, bottom corner.
Diego Llorente went close to equalising late on after connecting with an Adam Forshaw cross, only to see his effort drift wide of the post. Despite The Whites’ efforts after throwing everyone forward for a late rally, the host held on for an important three points, ending Leeds’s unbeaten start to the campaign. Nothing much to complain about as Brighton looked worthy of the win. Not many teams will take something from the Amex Stadium as Graham Potter has a very well-drilled side, hard to break down and they defend resolutely.
Full Time: Brighton 1-0 Leeds United. Venue: AMEX Community Stadium. Attendance: 30,953.
Vital Leeds player rankings: Meslier (8) Kristensen (6) Koch (6) Llorente (6) Struijk (7) Roca (6) Adams (7) Harrison (7) Aaronson (7) James (6) Rodrigo (7)
Subs: Gelhardt (5) Klich (6) Sinisterra (6) Forshaw (5)
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