GOLD standard for Brighton, bog standard for Leeds…and growing grounds for concern at Elland Road.
Yet very much a pitch perfect afternoon as far as the Seagulls are concerned, after Neal Maupay’s early tap-in brought a first Prem win in ten games.
Neal Maupay gave Brighton the lead after just 17 minutes at Elland RoadCredit: AP:Associated Press
Maupay celebrated after poking home Mac Allister’s cross into an empty netCredit: Reuters
Maupay stroked home from bang in front after Leeds – the team feted as Yorkshire’s own tiki-taka maestros – got a dose of their own medicine.
Heavy weather then for Bielsa and his boys. And a heavy, boggy home surface threatening to scupper the Argentine manager’s stylistic demands.
For this pitch, in this era of football on bowling greens, is the worst in the division. A 1970s throwback more Baseball Ground than Barcelona.
Not that head groundsman Kiel Barrett stands accused. He deserves a medal for even getting it to this state.
Yet the condensed close season meant plans to reconstruct a pitch now 25 years old had to be shelved for another 12 months and this is the result.
Bear in mind yesterday was the first game at Elland Road since December 27, and West Yorkshire has hardly suffered days of rain this week.
Not that the men in white could use that as an excuse for how flat-footed they were at times.
And their opponents at least managed to ping it around highly impressively with their 16th minute winner.
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Bielsa’s side got off to the worst possible start at home to the SeagullsCredit: Reuters
Brighton also hit the bar in the first-half as they threatened to inflict more damage on LeedsCredit: PA:Press Association
Pascal Gross started it with the deftest of volleyed flicks to send Ben White strolling through a huge gap in the midfield.
The man who became a hero in his season-long loan here in last year’s Championship-winning march, handed over to Alex MacAlllister.
And when he traded passes with Leandro Trossard and drilled in a low cross, Maupay had the simple job of finishing off from little more than a yard.
It was the sort of move Bielsa demands from his own side – and one even the men in white stood and admired.
That seemed to be the case, at least. There was little else to explain how Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas were nowhere in sight when Maupay tapped home.
For the Brighton goalscorer, an example of what can be done when you choose to stay on your feet, rather than tumbling in an embarrassing attempt to con a penalty.
That’s what Maupay had done earlier, crashing like he’d been hit by a double decker, rather than the faintest brush with Ayling.
Neither referee Kevin Friend or VAR official Craig Pawson were having any of it and Maupay was lucky not to get a yellow card. He should certainly have had a red face.
Leeds tried to fight back into the game in the second-half to no availCredit: Reuters
There were doubtless plenty of those in the home dressing room too, by the way.
Or at least you’d be disappointed if not, because for long periods they were shocking.
The side which has been showered with praise all season were woeful in the first half.
And although they stepped up the pace after the break, Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez still didn’t exactly need the game of his life.
The Seagulls were solid, strong and secure…and with their noses in front, the emphasis wasn’t them to chase a second.
Maybe they should have. Maybe then they’d at least have been able to enjoy the closing minutes a little more.
And on a rare second half excursion into Leeds territory they would have got another, too, but Trossard blazed over.
You sensed, though, they probably wouldn’t need it. Rarely did Leeds come close to proving the feeling wrong.
Frankly they were muddy awful.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
