Marcelo Bielsa 'worried' by Leeds United at both ends of the pitch after disappointing Brighton defeat

The Whites were distinctly under-par in the first half and went behind to a Neal Maupay goal, when Brighton cut the hosts apart.

Although Leeds were in control of the second half and dominated possession, they created very little in the way of clear-cut chances and fell to a 1-0 loss.

Elland Road's heavy pitch made life hard for players trying to play quick passes but Bielsa refused to accept it was an excuse.

"I don't want to link the performance or the defeat to the state of the pitch," he said.

"We could have got a better result anyway."

Leeds were without goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who Bielsa simply said was 'unwell' and Kiko Casilla started in goal. The Spaniard had little to do other than punch clear a corner, gather a cross and a tame shot and pick the ball out of the net.

Bielsa was disappointed with how his side defended and how easily Brighton ran the ball down the pitch whenever they took it off the home team. But despite the performance not being up to scratch, he still felt a different outcome was possible.

"I think we defended below our capabilities, below our usual level," he said.

"We only managed to recover the ball close to our own goal. Every time we lost the ball the adaptations took us to the edge of our own area to recover the ball. We attacked below our usual capabilities.

"We didn't attack well and didn't defend well either and we also didn't play well but the result could still have been different to what it was, without doubt.

"Even whilst playing below our capabilities, we still could have aspired to a better result."

Leeds have failed to score a goal in three 2021 outings and Bielsa, while insisting the Spurs defeat was not cause for alarm, admits he is concerned by the lack of quality chances created against Crawley and Brighton.

"This causes me worry because the fluidity to attack is not in the last two games from what we have been used to

"It worries me [not scoring in three games]. The response couldn't be any different. To have lost three games without scoring is not something without worry. They are all different games.

"In the game against Tottenham, even though we lost, the sensation of the performance wasn't a bad one. But in the FA Cup and today, in both these games we didn't defend well and didn't manage to attack well either. That's to say we defended below our resources and we attacked below our possibilities. Those two factors generate worry."