Brighton 1 Leeds United 0: McDermott prepares to meet Cellino on back of away defeat

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott will meet prospective owner Massimo Cellino on the heels of this 1-0 defeat to fellow play-off contenders Brighton.
Brian McDermottBrian McDermott
Brian McDermott

Striker Leonardo Ulloa gave the Seagulls maximum points, the only goal of the game coming midway through the second half.

Prospective owner Cellino was due to fly in from Miami at the start of an important week in which the Cagliari owner expects the Football League to approve his 75 per cent takeover of Leeds.

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The 57-year-old Miami-based businessman, who was not at last night’s game, remains in pole position in the race to buy a majority share in the Championship club.

Brighton made a lively start and Spanish midfielder Andrea Orlandi put a free-kick over from the edge of the area after Solly March was tumbled over by Rodolph Austin.

Danny Pugh threatened for the first time for Leeds by firing wide following a run down the wing.

Brighton’s new Spanish striker David Rodriguez, making only his second start for the Seagulls, tried his luck from the edge of the area but failed to test goalkeeper Paddy Kenny on 26 minutes.

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Leeds defender Stephen Warnock was booked for going in late on March before Argentinian Ulloa put a first-time shot into the side netting after neatly chesting down a precise pass from Orlandi.

Brighton goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak saved comfortably three minutes after the break from midfielder Alex Mowatt’s shot.

The Seagulls threatened at the other end when Rohan Ince drove forward and Calderon had a shot blocked from the edge of the box.

Head coach Oscar Garcia made his first change by introducing former Newcastle flyer Kazenga LuaLua in place of Rodriguez with 33 minutes remaining. LuaLua quickly made his presence felt and after 64 minutes his cross found Ulloa, who cleanly fired past a helpless Kenny from 10 yards.

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Leeds, who have now gone 10 games since keeping a clean sheet, attempted to hit back and Mowatt’s low shot was saved by Kuszczak after Kenny had saved from March.

United, who last lost away at Brighton eight years ago, never seriously threatened a late comeback as the Seagulls extended their unbeaten home run to seven games in all competitions.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Kuszczak, Calderon, Greer, Upson, Ward, Stephens,Ince, Orlandi, March (Buckley 73), Ulloa (Obika 81), Rodriguez (LuaLua 57). Unused substitutes: Brezovan, Dunk, Forster-Caskey, Lopez.

Leeds United: Kenny, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock, Kebe, Murphy, Austin, Mowatt (Hunt 77), Pugh (Smith 69), McCormack. Unused substitutes: Peltier, Brown, Tonge, Wootton, Cairns.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).