'That's his moment then' - spotlight on Leeds United 'keeper Kiko Casilla against Brighton in absence of Illan Meslier

Casilla was handed a first start since September in last weekend's third round FA Cup clash at Crawley Town but endured a second-half nightmare in a 3-0 defeat.

Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa then faced fresh questions about whether he could rely on Casilla in his pre-match press conference and Bielsa strongly defended the 34-year-old 'keeper.

As it was, Bielsa was then left to rely on Casilla just two days later with first choice custodian Meslier forced to miss Saturday's clash against Brighton due to illness.

Casilla got his first touches of the ball after just 26 seconds when coming to the edge of his area on the left to mop up at the back and again in the fifth minute.

The Spaniard then showed safe hands to gather a cross from the right under pressure from Neal Maupay and the 'keeper twice played out from the back around the quarter hour mark.

Brighton then took the lead in the 17th minute but there was nothing Casilla could have done about Maupay's finish from close range as Alexis MacAllister's cross caught Luke Ayling napping at the back.

Casilla then powerfully punched clear a corner in the 23rd minute and the Spaniard would not have been at fault had Leandro Trossard's cross deflected off Ayling into the back of the net and not cannoned back off the crossbar.

The rest of Casilla's action in the first half featured some more mopping up and playing out from the back but with Leeds making no real inroads on the Seagulls.

Brighton then had chances to double their lead in the second half but Casilla could only look on as Maupay fired wide soon after the restart.

The Spanish keeper then showed safe hands to gather a cross from the left shortly after the hour and Casilla got away without having to make a save as Trossard blasted a fine opportunity over the bar.

Another Brighton corner in the 76th minute spelled possible danger but Casilla stayed on his line as Leeds cleared a deep delivery.

The one moment of potential panic came in the 82nd minute when Brighton centre-back Adam Webster powered forward and unleashed a low drive from 20 yards out that Casilla dived to save before spilling the ball and gathering at the second attempt.

Luckily there were no Seagulls players following in.

"That's his moment for the day then" said former Whites stopper Rob Green during commentary of the game on Sky Sports.

"I am so relieved for him."

That small blip aside, it was a welcome solid display after a second-half nightmare at Crawley between the sticks.

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Thank you Laura Collins