Brighton 1-0 Leeds: Ulloa goal the difference as off-field uncertainty continues for McDermott's side
Mail 11/2/14By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Leeds United had actually done rather well since boss Brian McDermott was ‘sacked’ on deadline day only to be quickly re-instated, going on to record two victories in a row.
But the apparent desire to march on together, despite the madness going on off the pitch, came to an end with Leonardo Ulloa’s 64th-minute winner for Brighton.
Massimo Cellino, Leeds’ prospective new owner, was expected at the game ahead of his meeting with the Football League but was prevented by illness.
McDermott has not met Cellino and does not even have a meeting scheduled. Yet the Italian, who flew in from Miami, has agreed a deal to buy 75 per cent of the club from owners GFH, subject to League approval.
‘The most important thing is to know who the new owner’s going to be,’ said McDermott, drily. ‘At the moment it’s still GFH. I’m just doing my job, doing training and the games. My future will take care of itself.
‘It’s been difficult enough. As a manager you just want to concentrate on football. In the last 10 days that hasn’t been the case.’
In Cellino’s absence, McDermott was left to do his job: for now, at least. Both Brighton and Leeds remain on the brink of the play-offs, but it is now advantage to Oscar Garcia’s side in the race to catch sixth-placed Reading.
Ulloa made the difference here, the Brighton forward squeezing the ball between two Leeds defenders and past the unsighted Paddy Kenny. The goal gave Brighton their fourth 1-0 home win in a row.
‘It’s fine to win all the games 1-0 here but we need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal,’ said Garcia. ‘But we deserved the win — we created the better chances.’
McDermott, of course, thought 0-0 would have been a fair result, and he was probably just about right. The goal apart, Kenny was rarely troubled in the Leeds goal.
Ross McCormack, the Leeds captain, remained a threat on the break but lacked support while Brighton have found a realm prospect in defensive midfielder Rohan Ince.
The 21-year-old, a distant cousin of Paul and Tom Ince, came through Chelsea’s academy and was excellent in protecting his back four.
Leeds were brighter after the break, Alex Mowatt forcing a good save from Tomasz Kuszczak. McCormack also tested the keeper with a free kick before Mowatt again went close after Ulloa had put Brighton ahead.
How Ulloa’s goal will affect McDermott’s chances of keeping his job for Leeds’ trip to Middlesbrough a week on Saturday, however, remains to be seen.
