Brighton v Leeds United: YEP Jury give their big-match predictions

ANDY RHODES

With the season winding down, all eyes are on the top and bottom of the league.

Our opponents tomorrow, Brighton, were in trouble for much of this season despite their higher aspirations, but now appear to be on the brink of safety. In previous seasons, a dead-rubber fixture wouldn’t be particularly appealing, but every 90 minutes spent watching Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds feels like a privilege.

Brighton have struggled at home this season and United could look to take advantage to retain their spot in the top half of the table. Patrick Bamford seems to be going through a goals drought so a strike here would do him the world of good.

Similarly, Tyler Roberts is still looking for his long-awaiting first Premier League goal. His recent performances have been outstanding so, if anyone deserves a goal, he does.

There’s no doubt that Brighton will come to play as they look to secure their survival.

Can Leeds pull another result out of the bag on this impressive run?

Prediction: Brighton 0 Leeds United 2.

DAVID WATKINS

Having surprised even ourselves with excellent recent results against the cream of English football, and Manchester United, failure to get points from a trip to the seaside would be disappointing.

The Seagulls have had their wings clipped lately, winning only two of their last 12 games, losing half and the only thing to be nervous about is that they are still in a relegation battle.

That said, even if they lose to Leeds, I can’t see Fulham winning at Chelsea and hence Brighton would still have a seven-point advantage with four games left.

The converse argument is that a Brighton win would almost make them safe.

Leeds can play with freedom, knowing we have achieved all we set out to this season and each additional point is a bonus, although there is still the incentive of trying to gain places up the table with every rung worth another £2 million.

Brighton have won only two home games this season but they have drawn eight, more than any other side; I’m expecting that to be nine come tomorrow evening.

Prediction: Brighton 1 Leeds United 1.

JACOB STARR

On paper, the run-in looks pretty favourable for Leeds when comparing the last three matches so there’s no reason why we can’t push for a top-eight finish, starting with a long trip to Brighton tomorrow.

Graham Potter’s side are more than likely going to survive this campaign, holding a seven-point cushion to the bottom three, although they have failed to score in their last three matches, including a 1-0 loss to Championship-bound Sheffield United.

However, the Whites’ record down there makes for miserable reading, suffering defeat in our last four visits without finding the target. Albion also won the reverse fixture at Elland Road by a goal to nil.

Recent history of this fixture doesn’t encourage predicting a positive result for Leeds. But this isn’t the same Leeds United that traditionally loses against Brighton.

We can fear no-one now after going unbeaten in April against some of the very best in the business, even without Raphinha.

Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk are beginning to create a formidable partnership at the back, so a contest against a team that have won two games at home all season and generally struggle in front of goal should be ours for taking, right? Right?

Prediction: Brighton 0 Leeds United 2.

KEITH INGHAM

After superb efforts in gaining five points from nine in three of the hardest games you could have consecutively, Leeds face a trip to the south coast to face Brighton for a rare 3pm kick off on a Saturday.

With safety already guaranteed Leeds can face their last games in their first season in the Premier League with a degree of satisfaction – a healthy top-10 place with as many goals scored as conceded but without doubt Marcelo Bielsa will not rest on his laurels and neither will his squad.

There are 15 points to play for and he will want a good return from five games.

Brighton are still not safe and need maybe a couple of wins to guarantee Premier League football so they will want a better performance than their last when they were beaten 1-0 by already-relegated Sheffield United.

The fixture sees ex-Leeds loanee Ben White face the team he played so well for last season.

My usual ‘flutter’ is 2-1 Leeds and, recently, it’s been worthwhile and, although I’ll continue with it, I’ve a sneaking feeling that only one goal will be scored.

I’m saying Patrick Bamford with a second-half winner. He’s due a goal.

Prediction: Brighton 0 Leeds United 1.

MIKE GILL
After three servings of caviar against the elite of English football, it’s back to the bread and dripping with Brighton tomorrow.

When Leeds were trying to persuade the Seagulls to sell Ben White, a club official intimated that they couldn’t do this as it would be helping a fellow fighter against relegation.

United have done very nicely without the talented centre-back but the Seagulls have flown backwards! They are unlikely to finish 15th with 41 points like last season and must still be looking over their shoulders.

In the desperate world of Premier League survival, Brighton are still not safe from the drop and need to be taken seriously.

Having drawn with Everton and Chelsea, they lost to the doomed Sheffield United and that run of results exemplifies their season.

United need a win to continue their own run and Bielsa will not allow them to dream of their holidays just yet.

Neither is he likely to give talented youngsters a run unless there’s an emergency.

Prediction: Brighton 0 Leeds United 2.

MATTHEW EVANS

Our earlier game with Brighton this season was one of our most disappointing and frustrating.

The Elland Road pitch badly hurt us and we walked away with nothing.

Finer weather awaits for this May Day fixture and hopefully a much better result as well.

We are fresh off the back of a brilliant run and unbeaten despite some really tough fixtures.

The Leeds United fan in me thinks that means an almost certain defeat tomorrow as we come up against one of the league’s poorer sides and one that was such a big part of our pre-season narrative over the fight for Ben White.

Marcelo Bielsa says that Rodrigo is fit but Raphinha is not but, either way, we have shown enough this season to know that we could and maybe should beat Brighton.

Things don’t always go our way but I’m quietly optimistic that this could be another three points.

Prediction: Brighton 1 Leeds United 3.

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