Leeds United 0 Brighton 1: Manager ratings and the changes made by Marcelo Bielsa and Graham Potter

The contest marked a third meeting between Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa and Seagulls boss Graham Potter who faced Bielsa twice when in charge of Swansea City.

The YEP's Lee Sobot looks at three of the main aspects of the game with marks for team selection, tactics and substitutions or changes.

Selection

Marcelo Bielsa - 3/5

It's hard to really quibble too much with Bielsa's team selection in terms of his XI. Kalvin Phillips was suspended and Pascal Struijk was always going to come into the holding midfield role. That said, dropping Mateusz Klich deeper or starting Jamie Shackleton as CDM were the other main alternatives and in hindsight that might have been better. Diego Llorente also finally returned to the bench but it was always going to be a push coming straight back into the XI and there was never any doubt about Kiko Casilla getting another chance in goal with Illan Meslier missing. Perhaps it might have been nice to have seen something different from an attacking perspective on the bench and surely Sam Greenwood's turn there in a league game must be near. But all in all Leeds looked to have the XI to produce the goods, especialy against a Brighton side with six players out.

Graham Potter - 5/5

Potter had six players out injured yet still made a big call with one of Brighton's star men Yves Bissouma only on the bench on his return from suspension. Ben White started in centre midfield and essentially everything worked. Job done despite half a team out.

Tactics and formation

Marcelo Bielsa - 3/5

There were no real surprises and you know what you will get with Bielsa's Whites in terms of the side's intentions yet United never really clicked like they can do in an attacking sense. Raphinha and Jack Harrison did swap sides from the start with Raphinha on the left and Harrison on the right and perhaps they were better as they were. Ultimately Leeds failed to break down a very stubborn Brighton side and the Whites needed something different. Leeds lined up with a 4-1-4-1 against basically a Brighton back five and failed to make the necessary inroads through midfield. It was another of those cases where the Whites needed a plan B.

Graham Potter - 5/5

Potter has used various formations so far this season but lined up with a back three of three big centre-backs in Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Dan Burn with Joel Veltman and Solly March either side almost as wing backs. Ben White sat alongside Pascal Gross in centre-midfield with Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister in behind Neal Maupay upfront. Whites no 9 Patrick Bamford and then later Rodrigo and Tyler Roberts failed to have much joy against the Brighton wall at the back whilst the Seagulls attacking trio caused bother at the other end. All in all, Potter's plan worked.

Substitutions and changes

Marcelo Bielsa 3/5

Bielsa made three changes in the second half, starting with Tyler Roberts replacing Rodrigo in the 62nd minute after Rodrigo had moved into a more advanced role and closer to Bamford. Pablo Hernandez then replaced Gjanni Alioski in the 67th minute which meant a positional reshuffle and the final change saw Ian Poveda replace Raphinha with 15 minutes left. All three changes looked the right call, possibly aside from Raphinha coming off, but Bielsa might wish he made them sooner. Rodrigo also seemed to get swallowed up by the Brighton defence when moving further forwards.

Graham Potter 4/5

Potter's side left with victory so it was job done and the first change saw Mac Allister replaced in the 62nd minute by Bissouma who quickly looked a class act in midfield. Percy Tau then replaced Trossard in the 73rd minute in an almost like for like change before Davy Propper came on for Maupay with nine minutes left to further shut up shop. It worked as Leeds failed to find a breakthrough though United were gradually getting more threatening as the game wore on.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/marcelo-bielsa-worried-leeds-united-both-ends-pitch-after-disappointing-brighton-defeat-3103180

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins