Grrr-eat! PASCAL DOES THE BUSINESS
WHO needs a 20-goal-a-season striker when you’re on a clubrecord unbeaten run and boast the best defensive record in the Premier League?
Not Graham Potter. The Brighton boss branded calls to bring in a hotshot forward “unbelievable” despite Neal Maupay trotting off to Everton.
Pascal Gross responded by grabbing his third goal of the season to send Brighton temporarily top of the table, before Manchester City’s late comeback.
The German’s calm finish into the bottom corner, having been teed up by Leandro Trossard, handed his side a ninth Premier League match without defeat – their longest stretch without a loss in the top flight.
Potter said: “We will keep our feet on the ground and take every game as it comes.
“We had to suffer a little bit but overall I think we deserved the win.”
Previously unbeaten Leeds would have celebrated their best start to a Premier League season since 1995 with victory.
But the Seagulls have only conceded once so far this season and never looked like doing so against a
Leeds side crying out for their own talismanic central figure, with Patrick Bamford sidelined.
Jesse Marsch, who does want a new frontman in the final few days of the transfer window, has been relying on Rodrigo so far this season.
The Spaniard had their best chance when he got in behind, but Robert Sanchez battered his effort away.
Marsch’s frustrated touchline antics throughout the match provided an entertaining sideshow.
He eventually unleashed his inner John Mcenroe by slamming the ball at the turf to earn a booking, with his side ultimately toothless.
Marsch said: “In the end, it wasn’t enough from us and a good three points from Brighton.”
BRIGHTON: Sanchez 7; Veltman 6 (Mwepu (70) 6),
Dunk 6, Webster 6; March 7 (Lamptey (70) 6), Gross 8, Mac Allister 7, Caicedo 7, Estupinan 7 (Mitoma (78) 6); Trossard 7 (Colwill (79) 6); Welbeck 6 (Van Hecke (88) 6)
LEEDS: Meslier 6; Kristensen 5, Koch 6, Llorente
6, Struijk 5; Adams 6, Roca 6 (Klich (59) 6); James 5 (Sinisterra (59) 6), Aaronson 6 (Gelhardt (82) 5), Harrison 5 (Forshaw (74) 6); Rodrigo 6
STAR MAN: Pascal Gross – Third goal of the season couldn’t have been taken cooler and decided match.
REF: Michael Salisbury 7