Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion are as good as safe tonight, after a goal in either half gave them a vital three points in a win over an out-of-sorts Leeds.
Premier League: Brighton vs Leeds United was a clash between two teams looking upwards. Leeds are chasing a top ten place in their first season back in the Premier League, while the Seagulls’ aim was to climb away from the bottom three and to safety.
The hosts went ahead when Pascal Gross converted an early penalty and the points where made safe when Danny Welbeck added a cool finish late in the game. The victory took the Seagulls onto 37 points and ten above the drop zone, and with just for games remaining they look pretty comfortable. Leeds stayed in ninth, but they could drop put of the top ten if results go against them in the remaining games of this round.
The Brighton vs Leeds United highlights package tell the story of a team desperate to confirm their Premier League status and another, already safe, and looking jaded after a long and successful season.
Highlights of the game
The hosts made a bright start and Leandro Trossard had a good early chance but he fired his shot straight at keeper Illan Meslier. But, with 15 minutes on the clock, Leeds presented the Seagulls a gift when Ezgjan Alioski needlessly pulled Welbeck down with his arm and the referee had an easy decision to award a penalty.
Pascal Gross had converted two out of two penalties earlier in the season and he hit a brilliant spot-kick to put the hosts ahead. The goalkeeper guessed right but Gross hit his shot low into the bottom left corner just beyond the keeper’s hand.
Leeds came close to an equaliser when a cross from the left hit Dan Burn and almost bounced into the net but the Brighton defender recovered just in time. The Yorkshire side had dominated possession and territory throughout the first half but Brighton looked more dangerous and they went in a goal ahead, but it should have been two. Welbeck did well to scoop the ball across into the danger area and, with the goal at his mercy, Trossard seemed to panic and blazed his effort over.
Brighton’s biggest problems this season have been in front of goal and that was in evidence again, in the first minute of the second half, the Joel Veltman ran on to a low cross but he fired his effort way too high.
Having survived a few scares Leeds began to probe for an equaliser and, after a lucky break, Rodrigo found himself in on goal but there wasn’t enough power in his shot to trouble Robert Sanchez then, in the next Leeds attack, Stuart Dallas hammered a volley just over the bar.
But while they huffed and puffed the visitors couldn’t break through and they paid the price when Welbeck struck with a moment of genius. A loose ball landed at his feet on the left side of the penalty area and he took a brilliant touch before firing across Meslier and into the bottom right corner.
Key statistics
There was little goalmouth action in Leeds’ goalless draw with Manchester United last week and he Seagulls have struggled for goals, but there was no lack of entertainment in this game.
The Brighton vs Leeds United betting odds here at SBOTOP priced Brighton at 2.38 to win and, on the balance of play they deserved the three points. While Leeds dominated possession (58 per cent) and had better passing accuracy, the Seagulls won the shot count by 16 to 11 and five to two on target.
Leeds gave Brighton a leg up with an unnecessary penalty, the ninth they’ve conceded this season, more than any other team.
The Yorkshire side have lost their unbeaten run of six, while the Seagulls have ended a winless streak of four, but I guess it shouldn’t have been a big surprise as the Seagulls have won this fixture in eight of the last nine meetings.
What’s next?
Next Sunday the Seagulls are away to Wolves. Nuno’s side took a 4-0 battering from Burnley last week and are away to West Brom on Monday where they will hope to make amends.
Having enjoyed an unbeaten run against three of the self appointed ‘Big Six’ recently, Leeds take on another, when Spurs visit Elland Road next Saturday. Following the departure of Jose Mourinho, rookie head coach Ryan Mason took charge in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City last week, but Tottenham only registered two shots in the entire game; and that’s a worry with the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Gareth Bale in your team.
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