Brighton 1-0 Leeds: Just Pascal Gross topping another set of player ratings
Graham Potter reckons that Pascal Gross is in the best form of his life. It is hard to disagree with that assessment following Der Kaiser topping another set of player ratings as Brighton beat 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United 1-0 at the Amex.
Gross scored the only goal of the game, taking him onto three in three Premier League matches so far. He would have had at least two assists if his teammates had not been so wasteful in a match which the Albion could feasibly have won by two or three.
That second half strike took Gross onto three goals for the season. He has almost single-handedly delivered six point, sending Brighton top of the Premier League for the first time ever. Even if did only last four minutes before Manchester City overtook when moving 3-2 ahead at Crystal Palace.
The other 15 players involved against the Peacocks deserve credit too, of course. This was a tricky fixture against opponents who arrived having just hammered Chelsea 3-0.
Brighton though made The Leeds United look totally ordinary, resulting in yet another high set of player ratings – here is how everyone scored in Brighton 1-0 Leeds.
Robert Sanchez – 8.15
Only one save to make when he stood up well to block a shot in The Leeds United’s best spell just before the Albion goal. Dealt with some crosses into the box, but this was a very routine clean sheet overall.
Joel Veltman – 8.23
He might just be the in-house successor as Brighton shithouse to replace Neal Maupay. Earned The Leeds United one of their three first half bookings when making a meal out of a foul to go with a typically solid defensive display. Withdrawn with an injury in the second half which Potter will be praying is not serious.
Lewis Dunk – 8.15
Organised the defence supremely to make it a third clean sheet in a row. The only player who has found a way past Dunk and Co this season is Alexis Mac Allister with his own goal on the opening day at Old Trafford.
Adam Webster – 7.62
Good in possession and strong defensively. Him scoring below an eight can probably be attributed to that free first half header from a Gross free kick which he put wastefully off target.
Pervis Estupinan – 7.54
Some enterprising play down the left flank. Began to tire as the second half progress and that resulted in him nearly gifting Leeds two goals with some sloppy play. Potter hauled him as a result in a sensible substitution. Estupinan will be better for the experience.
Solly March – 7.15
Led The Leeds United on a merry dance, getting two visiting players booked in the space of 15 minutes. If he could finish, then he would have walked away with a hat-trick.
Alexis Mac Allister – 8.62
Asked again to do a modified version of the Yves Bissouma role. Did some important defensive work and also looked to get Brighton playing on the front foot.
PASCAL GROSS – 9.31
Outstanding. Should have walked away with two assists if Webster and March could finish. Instead had to settle for just a third goal of the season, clinically despatched into the bottom corner. Not just the Albion’s in-form player, but one of the most in-form in the Premier League right now.
Moises Caicedo – 8.08
Not as eye-catching a performance as we have seen from him in recent weeks but he still scores above an eight. He covered a lot of ground though and one first half highlight was a leap 70 feet in the air to win a towering header.
Leandro Trossard – 7.31
Poor decision making saw him take extra touches when he should have got first time shots away twice in the opening 45 minutes. Went onto claim an assist by teeing up Gross for the only goal of the game.
Danny Welbeck – 8.69
The emergence of Caicedo is credited with the turnaround in the Albion’s form since mid-April, yet it also coincided with Welbeck finding fitness. He achieved the second highest score in the Brighton 1-0 The Leeds United ratings. Involved in the goal although it looked mighty close to being offside according to those in-line with the build up.
Tariq Lamptey – 7.00
It was something of a worry when the dependable Veltman with the more attacking Lamptey when The Leeds United were on top. Lamptey though gave the Peacocks something to think about and he used his pace to get the Albion on the front foot on a couple of occasions, easing pressure on the defence.
Enock Mwepu – 6.85
Fairly obvious that he had never played as a lone striker before in his life. Not sure Potter will ask him to do the job again either – and a reminder that the Albion are light on striking options following the sale of Maupay to Everton.
Levi Colwill – 6.85
Brighton ended the game with a plethora of defenders on the pitch as the Seagulls tried to protect their lead. Colwill played his part with a couple of important interventions.
Kaoru Mitoma – 7.46
No chance to light up the left flank as he had on his home debut against Newcastle United. He still did some important bits in keeping the ball away from the Brighton goal, just like Lamptey on the opposite side.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via Twitter. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
