Brighton 2-0 Leeds: Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck all but ensure Seagulls’ Premier League status
Playing a team off the park, missing plenty of chances and failing to see out results – that has been the theme of the season for Graham Potter’s Brighton.
But the Seagulls broke that trend on Saturday to all but guarantee survival with a 2-0 win, making Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds look damningly average in the process.
Pascal Gross put Albion ahead with an early penalty and Danny Welbeck added a late second after a beautiful Cruyff turn to confirm the three points that took Potter’s men 10 points clear of 18th-placed Fulham.
Brighton produced a brilliant performance to all but ensure their Premier League survival
Pascal Gross scored from the penalty spot after Danny Welbeck was fouled in the first-half
Welbeck then scored a magnificent goal late on to move Brighton ten points clear of 18th
They played slick, one-touch passing and pulled Leeds apart at will, while they showed steel to record a seventh home clean sheet this season – bettered only by Manchester City and Chelsea.
The two-goal scoreline flattered Bielsa. Brighton really should have scored more but for wasteful finishing. They will care little now – this win means their top-flight status for a club-record fifth successive season is all but guaranteed.
‘The hardest thing is to put the ball into the net,’ said Potter. ‘But the way the players kept at it was good and they got the reward which is another goal and three points.
‘The turn [for Welbeck’s goal] was one of those moments where you’re sad there was not a crowd there to see it.’
Brighton started well and were ahead after 12 minutes via Gross’ penalty. Welbeck tried to manoeuvre some space in a cramped penalty area and was fouled by a clumsy Ezgjan Alioski.
Gross stepped up knowing Brighton have missed three penalties this season, the joint-most in the league, but he left Illan Meslier no chance with a hard and low spot-kick.
Welbeck looked sharper than he has before since signing for the Seagulls last summer and continued to hustle and harry Leeds defenders.
He caught Diego Llorente in possession on 40 minutes and squared to Leandro Trossard for what seemed like an easy finish but the Belgian fired high and wide.
Maybe if it was the other way around, with natural finisher Welbeck having the shot, it would have been different. But that happened minutes later, with Trossard feeding Welbeck only for the forward to pull his effort wide.
Leeds’ only chance of the half came when Albion’s Dan Burn headed a clearance at his own man Joel Veltman, nearly causing an embarrassing own goal that would have been perfect for a football blunders DVD – if they still exist.
Ezgjan Alioski gave away the penalty for this foul on Welbeck and was taken off at half-time
Gross stepped up and converted to the right hand side of Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier
Welbeck scored when he did a Cryuff turn to take him past Leeds defender Pascal Struijk
Too many times this season Brighton have dominated matches and not got what they deserve. For their fans watching at home up and down the country, it must feel like a predictable TV drama by now – and they’ve often not liked the ending.
But Bielsa’s men created next to nothing. Their only threat came from set-pieces, though most of them were gobbled up by the commanding Robert Sanchez.
‘We had a problem in creativity with the ball not reaching Patrick [Bamford],’ said Bielsa. ‘He could not receive the ball in positions where he can do harm.’
Ben White headed over from close range for Brighton before Neal Maupay missed another sitter. Trossard put it on a plate for the French forward, who was unmarked on the penalty spot with just Meslier to beat, but his shot was weak and rolled wide.
Potter continues to put his faith in Maupay despite just 18 goals in 70 Premier League appearances. He does more than just scoring goals – with shrewd link-up play and smart pressing – but one wonders where Brighton would be with a prolific goalscorer.
It was a frustrating day at the office for Leeds, whose six-match unbeaten streak ended
Jack Harrison sees his ambitious volley at the Amex Stadium sail over the crossbar
But in asking questions of Maupay’s finishing ability, it was easy to forget that Brighton have a former Manchester United and England forward alongside him in Welbeck.
He confirmed the win on 79 minutes with a beautiful goal. Pascal Struijk tried to clear a bouncing ball but Welbeck picked the ball out of the sky with a Cruyff-turn to allude two defenders, before he slotted past Meslier with his left foot.
When Brighton return to social media after the boycott on Monday evening, they will be sure to milk videos of that special turn from Welbeck.
‘Not to be relegated was our target,’ added Bielsa. ‘Every game there is an obligation to compete at that maximum level.’
Marcelo Bielsa was visibly frustrated with his side’s performance throughout the 90 minutes
Graham Potter on the other hand will be delighted as his side are now ten points clear of 18th
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