Leeds United attention turns to future but present remains a going concern — Graham Smyth's Brighton Verdict — YEP 18/5/26

By Graham Smyth

Leeds United proved against Brighton that you can have half an eye on the future and still do your job in the present.

The Whites' smash and grab victory in their final home outing perfectly encapsulated their entire Premier League return. All season long they have remained competitive and therefore in with a chance of points. Against Brighton they came under serious pressure, defended for their lives and then won it by pouncing ruthlessly on a stoppage time error.

Daniel Farke spent much of his pre-game presser talking about the future, both his and the club's. In his eyes the only possible way forward, together, is to be ambitious and not stand still. That was the backdrop to this encounter with a side who have firmly established themselves as a Premier League force and shown ambition that is close to being rewarded with European football.

For Elland Road, some of which was bathed in sunshine, it was not a time for worrying too much about what is to come. It was a party. It was balloons and beach balls. A chance to send the team off into the final away game and the summer. For Dan James, who was accompanied onto the pitch by his youngsters, it was arguably the toughest test on the pitch. He found himself up against Yankuba Minteh and Brighton's desire to target the winger was obvious from the off. Their early battles came and went without damage to the hosts. And actually James had more of an impact offensively than the man he was marking, early on.

Leeds generally could lay claim to the better start. James Justin's pretty takedown from Ethan Ampadu's long pass took the home side into a promising position and the subsequent ball into the run of Dominic Calvert-Lewin was equally good yet the striker lost it in his feet. Brenden Aaronson's ratting around the midfield started two further forays that ended deep in Brighton territory, James curling a cross beyond the targets in the middle and then seeing a well-hit shot deflected just past the post.

As the half went on the Whites continued to have the better of it. Brighton's only moment in the first half hour was a long-distance effort from Pascal Groß that Karl Darlow dealt with comfortably. It wasn't that Leeds were creating much themselves but they were winning duels and pressing in a way that negated Brighton's traps. When the visitors went long they found Jaka Bijol in dominant form and Anton Stach made life difficult when they tried passing it.

Perhaps it was the lack of jeopardy or simply the lack of goalmouth action but Elland Road was lulled into sleepiness for a spell. Leeds were shutting down their visitors yet it wasn't exactly blood and thunder stuff. It wasn't until the very end of the half that it really sparked to life at both ends. Brighton were again restricted to a long-range shot and this one swerved wickedly, forcing Darlow into a spectacular save. And when Leeds went down the other way Calvert-Lewin's pass for Stach was cut out and the ball rebounded towards the top corner, Bart Verbruggen flying through the air to palm it wide.

Brighton came out with a little more intent about them in the early minutes of the second half and their best move of the game had Leeds in real bother. But when the ball was cut back to Danny Welbeck and he fired for goal, Ampadu's instinct of running into the goalmouth paid off handsomely as it put him in position to head off the line.

Within 15 minutes of the restart it was abundantly clear that the Seagulls were presenting a completely different proposition and by the 60 minute mark Farke had responded. On came Lukas Nmecha, Willy Gnonto and Sean Longstaff, with Aaronson, James and Ao Tanaka making way. Gnonto came close to an instant impact but slipped as he shot and sent the ball just wide.

Things got even more difficult for Leeds after that. Stach had to be stretchered off with what looked like a painful ankle injury. Farke was already without star men Gabi Gudmundsson, Jayden Bogle, Pascal Struijk and Noah Okafor for this game. Losing another key midfielder and only being able to replace him with striker Joel Piroe showed just how tricky this penultimate task of the season had become. Diego Gomez had a golden chance to hammer home to separate the sides and somehow sent it well wide. Leeds stayed in the game. Piroe curled just wide with his first touch. But play was taking place closer and closer to Darlow's net as the minutes wore on.

Having reached the final minutes with their clean sheet intact, Leeds showed no signs of wavering. Bijol's monstrous aerial ability helped but he twice blocked in the area with his feet too, defending the box like this game meant the world. Farke nodded to sentimentality with his final sub, sending on Sam Byram whose second stint at Leeds is likely to come to an end when his contract finishes in the summer. And just as if it was written, his pass led to a winner. Byram didn't even find Nmecha with the ball down the touchline, he found Jan Paul van Hecke. The Brighton defender turned and looked to find his keeper, sold him very short and allowed Calvert-Lewin to steal in and steal the victory. As the ball rolled into the empty net and he whipped off his shirt, the party really started inside Elland Road.

What followed the full-time whistle was just reward for a season of hard work and a plan that worked. Each player had their moment, being introduced individually to the crowd. And then Farke had his. His name rang out not only in recognition of yet another fine performance and result, but a season of them. Eleven wins, 14 draws and only a dozen defeats - many of which could have gone a different way. What Leeds have created, what they have survived with, is the foundation for what could come next. Attention internally has already turned to a future that could be really bright, but Farke and his men are now eyeing one final hurrah. The present is still to be enjoyed.