Welbeck strikes to keep Potter boys on the up
DANNY WELBECK put on a vintage show to all but ensure Brighton will be in the Premier League for a fifth successive season.
After winning the Seagulls’ first-half penalty, scored by Pascal Gross, the striker then wrapped up this vital third home victory of the season with a sensational late solo strike.
Brighton boss Graham Potter hailed his free summer signing from Watford, who now has five league goals.
He said: “It was a brilliant turn and fantastic finish.
‘‘Danny’s goals per minute this season has been a good return. The key is keeping him out on the pitch.
“He brings great personality to the place and we want to keep him. But we will discuss that at the end of the season.”
With only four games left it will take a dramatic turnaround at the basement for the Seagulls to fall into the Championship.
Not that evercautious Potter is taking survival for granted. He added: “Unless my maths is wrong, we’re not safe yet – but we can breathe easier.”
Unlike their hosts, Leeds already knew they are safe. The only real question for them was could they gatecrash the Europa League by snatching seventh place?
That seems a long way off now after this poor display.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was suitably unimpressed but refused to blame the absence of crocked England midfielder Kalvin Philips for the below par afternoon. The Argentine coach said: “I don’t link the defeat to being without Kalvin Phillip.
“We didn’t create many chances because we didn’t get the ball into the final third enough.”
Brighton made the brighter start. And when Leeds left-back Ezgjan Alioski got in a tangle and hauled down Welbeck in the box, Gross stepped up to fire low and hard into the bottom corner.
That was Brighton’s first goal in six hours. Yet rather than give them a lift, it briefly sparked a response from Leeds.
Yet the closest they went to leveling before half-time was through Jack Harrison’s speculative 20-yard half-volley that flew well wide.
However, Leeds were not their normal selves and never looked like getting back into the contest.
Instead, it was left for Welbeck to seal matters in style in the 79th minute.
He pounced on a poor clearance and controlled it with a stunning Cruyff-style turn before drilling in low and hard with his left peg. Game over.