Leeds United bad day at Brighton, Hurzeler and Farke disagreement, Rutter declines and off-camera moments — YEP 2/11/25
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s
3-0 defeat at Brighton.
Leeds United produced arguably their poorest performance of
the season in a miserable 3-0 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Whites were soft in key defensive moments and showed
little to no quality in attack, creating very few chances and squandering any
that did come their way.
Though they failed to lay a glove on their hosts in the
first half, they were still in the game at the break. But Brighton comfortably
stretched ahead in the second half and cantered to victory. Here's the YEP take
on Saturday’s fifth loss of the Premier League season.
Good day
Georginio Rutter
The only man on the pitch with any Leeds affections who
covered himself in any glory. Showed the ability that made him an Elland Road
favourite, going past players with ease and set up a goal brilliantly. Didn't
want to celebrate, also didn't want to do the wave with Brighton fans at the
end after going to applaud the travelling supporters.
Bad Day
Jayden Bogle
The right-back has looked at home in many of Leeds' Premier
League outings so far this season but that wasn't the case at Brighton. His
poorest performance of the campaign.
Gabriel Gudmundsson
Coming up against an attacker like Yankuba Minteh is an
unenviable task because he makes good players look decidedly poor. He gave
Gabriel Gudmundsson a really difficult afternoon.
Ethan Ampadu
You could tell the Leeds captain was hurting during the
defeat because he tried taking it out on an opposition player with a poor,
heavy challenge. But the time to lay a glove on them was much earlier in the
game. Too little, too late from the side's leader.
Daniel Farke
His side looked toothless going forward, porous at the back
and none of his changes made any difference. This was not a competitive
performance.
Off-camera
Dan James stretching to get a toe on Joel Piroe's pass in
the pre-game rondo and looking thoroughly pleased with himself. Seconds later
he was back in the middle after an errant pass for Pascal Struijk.
Ilia Gruev absolutely drilling a pass into the body of Joel
Piroe in the warm-up, to the delight of Anton Stach and Struijk.
Georginio Rutter taking a detour en route to the dressing
room to hug various Leeds medical staff members. Ethan Ampadu was passing at
the time and leapt in to slap the Frenchman on the back of the head.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin generously applying a vapour rub to
his chest, neck, face and shirt prior to kick-off.
Daniel Farke getting frustrated with Noah Okafor and his
movement, having also had words with Gabriel Gudmundsson on that topic early in
the first half.
Danny Welbeck expressing his disapproval as Gudmundsson
threw the ball long and out behind for a Brighton goalkick, after the hosts had
kicked it out near halfway with Okafor down injured.
Fabian Hurzeler motioning to the fourth official that a
Leeds player had gone in with studs up on one of his. The Brighton boss was
enraged by a second half Ampadu challenge and that annoyed Farke with the two
exchanging words.
Rutter and Farke having a big embrace and a chat at
full-time. The Frenchman then approached the away end to applaud them, getting
a nice reception. Rutter declined the Brighton fans' invitation to do the wave
at the other end.
