BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: TWO SPOT KICKS DEFEAT LEEDS
Murray and Hemed penalties down 10-man United.
EFL Championship
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (Murray pen 23, Hemed pen 82) Leeds United 0
A penalty kick in either half from Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed gave Brighton & Hove Albion a 2-0 victory over Leeds United as Kalvin Phillips saw red.
The home side got off to a good start in the match, they had a good chance in the 11th minute when Oliver Norwood whipped in a free-kick and Shane Duffy was just inches away from making contact with his head.
Murphy who won the first free-kick, did so again three minutes later, Norwood’s again delivered, his free-kick this time went beyond everyone and just wide of Rob Green’s post.
Leeds were reduced to ten men in the 22nd minute when Phillips was shown a straight red card and Brighton were awarded a penalty. The Leeds midfielder handled on the goal-line to prevent the hosts taking the lead, but he couldn’t prevent Murray from stepping up and converting the resulting penalty.
Murray then went close to doubling his goal tally and the Brighton lead, his header at the back post from a corner went just wide.
In first half stoppage time Leeds had half a chance to hit back, Hadi Sacko’s shot fell in Chris Wood’s path, but he miss-kicked the ball.
The Seagulls then had a really good opportunity to score again through Murray, his effort with the outside of his boot went just over the crossbar.
Half Time: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Leeds United
Leeds re-grouped with ten men after the break, with Matt Grimes replacing tricky attacker Hadi Sacko.
The hosts continued their ascendancy though, Knockaert teed up Murphy to shoot and he forced Green into a good save.
Knockaert and Murphy then combined again, with the winger crossing for the latter, but he couldn’t guide his header on target.
Brighton had a goal ruled out in the 70th minute, Shane Duffy got on the end of Lewis Dunk’s header, but it was disallowed for offside.
United stopper Green then made a good save to deny Duffy who headed on goal from Knockaert’s free-kick.
Albion were awarded another penalty eight minutes from time, Kyle Bartley was adjudged to have brought down Dunk and substitute Hemed sent Green the wrong way to ensure Brighton would be heading to the top of the table.
United had a chance late on when Chris Wood headed Stuart Dallas’ corner at the back post, but he couldn’t find the target, as Leeds’ dismal recent record against Brighton continued.
Full Time: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Leeds United
Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Pocognoli, Knockaert (Skalak 87), Stephens, Norwood, Murphy (March 66), Murray (Hemed 78), Baldock. Subs not used: Maenpaa, Sidwell, Goldson, Hunt.
Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson (Cooper 88), Taylor, Vieira, Phillips, Sacko (Grimes 46), Roofe (Mowatt 80), Doukara (Dallas 71), Wood. Subs not used: Silvestri, Antonsson, Berardi, Mowatt.
Booked: Ayling, Bartley, Jansson (Leeds), Murray (Brighton)
Sent Off: Phillips (Leeds)
Referee: P. Tierney
Venue: American Express Community Stadium
Attendance: 28,206 (2,736 Leeds)
