Leeds United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 2 is that a point gained or two lost?
11 MARCH 2023 -
LEEDS UNITED 2 ( Patrick Bamford 1 Jack Harrison 1 )
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 - ( Alexis Mac Allister 1 Solly March 1 )
- PREMIER LEAGUE - at ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS.
For the twenty-fourth game of their Premier League campaign, eighth-placed Albion (38 points from 23 games) journeyed to Yorkshire to meet relegation-threatened seventeenth-placed Leeds United (22 points from 25 games) at Elland Road, in a match broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following their emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham United on the 4 March, Albion had to make one enforced change to their starting line-up from that game, with Joel Veltman replacing the injured Tariq Lamptey.
Since the teams' last meeting, Leeds had dispensed with the services of HeadCoach Jesse Marsch and replaced him with former Watford Head Coach Javi Gracia.
Last time out in the Premier Leeds had lost 0-1 at Chelsea on the 4th March and for Albion's visit Gracia made two changes to his starting line-up from the Chelsea game, with Marc Roca and Patrick Bamford coming in for Weston McKennie and Georginio Rutter.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season on the 27 August 2022 at the Amex the Albion beat Leeds 1-0, with the goal being scored by Pascal Gross (66m).
Last season, it finished 0-0 at the Amex on the 27 November 2021 and 1-1 at Elland Road on the 15 May 2022, with Danny Welbeck (21m) scoring for the Seagulls and Pascal Struijk (90+2m) netting a last-gasp equaliser for Leeds.
It was Albion who were first out of the traps and early opportunities fell to Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross (twice) and Evan Ferguson, which were not converted.
Deservedly the visitors took the lead on 33 minutes with a superb team goal, as a long ball out of defence by Lewis Dunk found Gross on the right who lofted a cross to Kaoru Mitoma at the far post who headed the ball back across goal here Alexis Mac Allister was positioned to head the ball home from close-range. 1-0.
Surprisingly Leeds got an equaliser on 40 minutes when Joel Veltman surrendered the ball to Jack Harrison who in turn fed Patrick Bamford whose shot from 20 yards out took a big deflection off defender Adam Webster before ending up in the Albion net, giving keeper Jason Steele no chance. 1-1.
Prior to the break, Albion missed a great opportunity of regaining the lead when Mitoma crossed from the left to Mac Allister in front of the sticks but the Argentinian from twelve yards out inexplicably placed his shot wide of the goal. Half-time 1-1.
The second-half started with keeper Steele making a fine save in tipping a shot from Brendan Aaronson around the post and then Luke Ayling smashed a shot over the bar from close-in. The Seagulls were in front again on 61 minutes when Mitoma's low cross from the left eluded three Leeds players before Solly March tapped the ball home. It was March's sixth goal of the season. 2-1.
Leeds keeper Illan Meslier then made two fine saves to keep his team in the game, denying March and then substitute Danny Welbeck in quick succession. Against the run of play, Leeds equalised on 78 minutes when substitute Wilfried Gnonto's corner fell to Harrison who sent a curled shot past keeper Steele into the top corner of the net. 2-2.
Both teams had a chance a-piece before the end, with Webster making an excellent last-ditch tackle to deny Georginio Rutter and March went close with a free-kick which was close to the target.
Final-score 2-2.
Albion head 14 shots at goal, with 2 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
Leeds United had 12 shots at goal, with 4 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
TO SUM UP - Having lead twice and missing some gilt-edged chances, it was a case of two points dropped by the Albion.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Adam Webster (Jan Paul Van Hecke 88), Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma; Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 68).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Levi Colwill, Facundo Buonanotte, Yasin Ayari, Jeremy Sarmiento, Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav.
Leeds United line-up (4-2-3-1):- Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling. Robin Koch, Maximilian Wober, Junior Firpo; Tyler Adams, Marc Roca (Weston McKennie 66); Crysencio Summerville (Wilfried Gnonto 66), Brendan Aaronson (Georginio Rutter 84), Jack Harrison (Luis Sinisterra 90+4); Patrick Bamford (Moreno Rodrigo 66).
Subs not used: Joel Robles (G/K), Pascal Struijk, Rasmus Kristensen, Sam Greenwood.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Moises Caicedo. Leeds United: 1 - Junior Firpo.
Possession: Albion - 62%. Leeds United - 38%.
BBC Player of the Match: Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United).
Attendance: 36471.
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13 MARCH 2023 - ADAM LALLANA - (34) - MIDFIELDER - SIGNS NEW ONE-YEAR CONTRACT - EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 2024.
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