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Joe Donnohue

Leeds United can exploit Brighton's status as the Premier League's best at surrendering leads

Next on the Premier League agenda for Leeds United is the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion, a side below the Whites in the table.

It gives Leeds ample opportunity to lay to rest the ill-feeling of a premature FA Cup exit to lower league opposition and the chance to continue the good form Marcelo Bielsa's side have enjoyed in this first half of the season.

Graham Potter's men have won just twice this season but both victories have been away from home. They also welcome back Yves Bissouma to their midfield, a rangy, box-to-box presence who has the potential to cause Leeds similar problems to Declan Rice and Scott McTominay.

Marcelo Bielsa on Ben White

Leeds themselves are without Kalvin Phillips to combat Bissouma's midfield presence, so will rely on Pascal Struijk to tidy up in front of the defence.

This year, plenty has been made regarding Leeds' apparent inability to defend set-pieces, however Brighton themselves have a rather worrying trend of their own.

Despite struggling to take a hold of matches, Brighton have been in the lead for a cumulative total of 250 minutes this season, which isn't exactly a great deal of time, roughly equating to two-and-a-half games.

In that brief period, Brighton have conceded seven goals, indicating they have something of a soft underbelly once going ahead in games.

Protecting leads does not appear to be their forte, just as defending set-pieces isn't Leeds'.

What this means for Bielsa's team is that should Brighton go ahead at Elland Road, his side can take encouragement that their opponents have a track record of surrendering their advantageous positions in games.

Most recently, the Seagulls took an early lead through Aaron Connolly against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but were pegged back within six minutes, conceding two more goals, then were forced to mount a fightback, eventually drawing 3-3.

Against West Ham United, Brighton took the lead twice, only to see parity restored twice, with that match finishing 2-2.

They have gone ahead in games against Southampton and Manchester United before succumbing to defeat this season as well - it is a particularly prevalent weakness.

Leeds' relentless playing style should bode well in theory, and there is even an argument that going a goal down may even be beneficial, sparking the team into life which looked as though it needed a jump-start at Crawley.

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