Now we’re going for promotion - Leeds goal hero Murphy

Murphy sparked euphoric celebrations at Elland Road with a 94th-minute strike, earning Leeds a 2-1 victory over Brighton on the first day of the new Championship term. The 23-year-old – a £1m signing from Crewe Alexandra last month – found the top corner of Albion’s net amid suspicions of handball to inflict defeat on last season’s play-off semi-finalists and delight a crowd of 33,000.

Brighton are tipped for another strong campaign but a summer of few transfer deals at Elland Road has seen United overlooked in the betting markets for promotion.

A thrilled Murphy said: “We’re not on the list of leading odds in this division and, while I don’t think that’s fair, we’ll take it. It’s always good to be the underdog.

“We’ll go about our business and keep picking up points. Hopefully by the end of the season we’ll be there or thereabouts.

“This is a perfect start to the season and the perfect start to my Leeds career.

“Everyone played their part and we didn’t stop for 94 minutes. It paid off.

“The manager told us afterwards that the result was everything we deserved. We definitely deserved the win.”

Murphy appeared to control a header from Matt Smith with his arm before driving the ball past Albion goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak who protested angrily to referee James Adcock.

Murphy said: “It all happened very quickly. It may have ricocheted off the arm but I’m not going to complain.

“We thought we might have had a penalty early on so it all adds up in the end.”

Leonardo Ulloa silenced a packed Elland Road with a 13th minute goal for Brighton but Ross McCormack equalised soon after and Leeds rose to the occasion with a dominant display in the second half.

“Our performance was first-class and we’re comfortable with expectation,” Murphy said.

“If you can’t deal with that or thrive on it then you’re not in the right business.”

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