Neal’s finish secures a first league win since November
LEEDS boss Marcelo Bielsa’s magic is quickly disappearing as the Whites are heading into a tail-spin.
Dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two Crawley and now well-beaten by a Brighton side who hadn’t won since November – their season is fizzling out at a rapid pace. Defeat by Graham Potter’s excellent Seagulls thanks to Neal Maupay’s finish inflicted a third straight defeat on Bielsa. The South American admitted his stars are struggling – and he’s worried.
“We didn’t attack well, we didn’t defend well and we also didn’t play well but the result could still have been different,” said Bielsa.
“Even while playing below our capabilities we still could have aspired to a better result. The lack of chances worries me.
“The fluidity to attack is not the same in the last two games to what we have been used to.”
Leeds – without suspended Kalvin Phillips – were missing their usual high tempo and creativity was in short supply from players who charged out of the Championship and made an instant impact in the Premier League.
But that shouldn’t detract from a mightily impressive Brighton display that makes it baffling why Potter’s stars have been struggling in the lower reaches.
The Seagulls boss said: “To come here for our third game in six days, against this team, and keep a clean sheet is a great result. I’m so proud of the players. If you open up too much you make it a game that favours Leeds and it’s a third game in six days so we have to manage that situation.
“I’d rather have a second but 1-0 wins always show a lot about the character of a team, especially with the week we’ve had including 120 minutes and penalties against Newport in the cup.”
Their football was accomplished, intelligent and full of invention – and featured one of the best team goals seen so far this season as they registered their first league win in 10 games.
With 17 minutes gone Brighton carved through Leeds’ defence with a rapid passing move Bielsa would have been proud to claim himself.
Ben White – imperious on his return to the club he helped get promoted to the Premier League – played a key role picking out eye-catching Argentinian Alexis Mac Allister.
He played a one-two with Leandro Trossard before pulling the ball across goal for French forward Maupay to tap in the game’s only goal.
If anyone expected Brighton to sit back they were wrong as they confidently took control leaving Leeds looking ordinary.
The Whites have now lost six of their last nine games and seem to have hit a brick wall.
That obstacle yesterday was in the shape of Brighton’s back three – Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Dan Burn.
When the Leeds fightback eventually whirled into action in the second half they repelled everything Bielsa’s stars threw at them – even though in terms of chances that wasn’t much.
It could have been worse too with the crossbar saving Leeds from conceding a second after 25 minutes with Trossard’s attempted cross to scorer Maupay flicking off Luke Ayling’s boot on to the woodwork – but just the one would do for Potter in the end.
Casilla 6; Dallas 5, Ayling 6, Cooper 5, Alioski
5 (Hernandez (66th) 5); Struijk 6; Raphinha 5 (Poveda
76th), Rodrigo 5 (Roberts (62nd) 5), Klich 5, Harrison 7; Bamford 5
Sanchez 6; Webster 7, Dunk 7, Burn 7; Beltman 7, White 7, Gross 6, March 8; Mac Allister 8 (Bissouma (62nd) 5), Trossard 7 (Tau 76th); Maupay 7 (Propper 80th)
Alexis Mac Allister
K Friend