Marcelo Bielsa admits Leeds United were below their best, but could still have avoided defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion

Marcelo Bielsa admitted Leeds United were below their best but they still could have avoided extending their winless, goalless start to 2021.

The Whites were beaten 1-0 at home by Brighton and Hove Albion, their third straight defeat.

Bielsa felt his team did not win the ball high enough up the pitch, but they dominated possession and Kiko Casilla had little to do in his first meaningful league appearance since his eight-game suspension for racist language.

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“I think we lowered our capabilities below our usual levels,” he said. “We only managed to recover the ball close to our own goal.

CHANCES: Marcelo Bielsa pointed to the number of chances Patrick Bamford has had in this season's Premier League when asked if Leeds United struggle against back threesCHANCES: Marcelo Bielsa pointed to the number of chances Patrick Bamford has had in this season's Premier League when asked if Leeds United struggle against back threes
CHANCES: Marcelo Bielsa pointed to the number of chances Patrick Bamford has had in this season's Premier League when asked if Leeds United struggle against back threes

“Every time we lost the ball the adaptation took us to the edge of our area to recover the ball.

“We attacked below our usual capabilities.

“We didn't attack well and we didn't defend well. We also didn't play well but the result could still have been different, without doubt.

“Even whilst playing below our capabilities, we still could have aspired to a better result.”

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Bielsa said he felt the team had not created enough good chances in the last two matches, if not the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. He did not feel Brighton playing three central defenders - with Ben White in front of them - was a big factor in the defeat.

“This causes me worry because the fluidity to attack is not the same in the last two games to what we've been used to,” he said.

“I don't link the fact we didn't have opportunities to the fact our opponent played with three defenders. I would make a reference to the striker (Patrick Bamford) who has had the most shots in the Premier League.”

First-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier missed the game through illness, but Bielsa says it was not sprung upon him.

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Leeds were not helped by a poor pitch, although Bielsa was not prepared to use that as an excuse. His opposite number, Graham Potter admitted the pitch was difficult for the passing football both sides like to play, although he was sympathetic about it.

“It was a heavy pitch, they've had a bit of weather up here but we played at Newport on Sunday so we got used to it.

“My wife's from Yorkshire, I know what it's like up here, it rains a lot.

“It was very long grass, a soft pitch, heavy. It wasn't an easy surface to keep running on.”

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Potter was full of praise for his players, who were taken to penalties at Newport County in the FA Cup third round six days earlier, then beaten by Manchester City in midweek.

“I'm very proud of the players,” he said. “It was a tremendous effort after a really tough and good week.

“We played 120 minutes against Newport on a difficult pitch, then a tight defeat to Manchester City.

“We showed great character, great personality and quality.

“Apart from maybe one-and-a-half games the performance levels have been good but of course if you don't get results you're going to face some criticism and pressure.

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“It was a good goal and I think we were a little bit unlucky not to have a second one. I can't remember too much from Leeds because of how the game was sent up.

“There were three guys on the pitch playing their third game in three days.

“We had to defend and be quite smart in terms of what we asked our team to do because it was our third game in six days and Leeds were fresh.

“We had to be clever with our defensive organisation but credit to Leeds they don't make it easy for you.”

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