Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Leeds United
A second half goal from Pascal Gross was enough to edge out Leeds United and take Brighton up to second place in the table on ten points from four games.
This fixture, Premier League: Brighton vs Leeds, gave the winner the incentive of top spot in the league table, but Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace nudged the Seagulls out on goal difference.
Last week Leeds had their greatest day in recent Premier League history, beating Chelsea 3-0, but on Saturday it just didn’t work out for the Whites. The Brighton vs Leeds betting odds backed a home win and the visitors could have few complaints.
Highlights of the game
Brighton started the game well on top and the Seagulls’s newest recruit, Pervis Estupinan, had the home fans on their feet with some scintillating wing play in the early minutes, and his skill and vision set up the fist chance of the game when he floated over a lovely ball which Adam Webster headed wide. Then Webster missed a glorious chance on 17 minutes when Pascal Gross crossed to give him a free header which he missed from six yards with the goal gaping.
Seagulls fans are well used to seeing their team dominate matches at home and fail to take their chances; and that was the tale of the first half as Leandro Trossard was the next player to waste an opportunity, slicing a far post volley into the stands when he had time to control the ball. And then Webster had another chance when Lewis Dunk headed down to him but he smashed his effort from 12 yards off target.
As half time approached Leeds began to get a foothold in the game and only a great interception from Joel Veltman stopped Brendan Aaronson in his tracks. Rodrigo has been outstanding in Leeds’ opening three games and he started the day as the league’s top scorer, on four. And the Spanish attacker had Leeds’ opening shot on target, in the last minute of the half, with a well struck free kick which was deflected wide.
Brighton started the second half as they did the first and Estupinan slid a ball across to Pascal Gross but he screwed his effort wide of the post. And then Solly march had a huge chance when he was clean through on goal, but Leeds stopper Illan Meslier made a brave block to keep the scores level.
March missed another chance after more good work from Estupinan, but then Leeds hit back and Aaronson almost broke the deadlock but his cross shot skidded wide, before Rodrigo hit the side netting with another effort.
But then, on 66 minutes, the Seagulls got their goal.
Danny Welbeck picked up the ball and fed Trossard who, in turn, passed to Gross who calmly fired home. There was a nervy minute while VAR took a look but Welbeck, who seemed like he may have been offside in the build up, was marginally on the right side of the line and the stadium erupted again.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch was frustrated and he became the fourth Leeds man to go into the book when he slammed the ball down in the direction of the ref.
His players were still in the game and they had a huge late chance when Adam Forshaw swung in a beauty of a ball which Diego Llorente met but thundered his header agonisingly wide.
Key statistics
At SBOTOP odds of 1.90 to win the Seagulls were strong favourites and while Leeds had the lions share of possession the hosts won the shot counts by 13 to ten and four to two on target.
Brighton set a new club record of nine Premier League matches unbeaten and they have conceded just one goal so far in this campaign, and that was an own goal.
What’s next?
Arsenal fans have been watching the Brighton vs Leeds news updates with interest before the Gunners embark on their Saturday teatime quest to cement their top spot at home to Fulham. If they do win, Mikel Arteta’s team will knock the Sky Blues off their perch.
There are two match days over the next week and the Seagulls take a trip to West London to take on Fulham, who they hope will have been severely softened up by Arsenal. And then they return to the Amex Stadium for a home game against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.
Leeds host struggling Everton on Tuesday night before heading to Brentford next Saturday at a ground which holds happy memories for the Whites after they pulled off a spectacular win there, on the last day of last season, to secure another year in the top flight.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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