Marcelo Bielsa once again sprung some surprises with his Leeds United side for the Premier League clash with Brighton.
Despite having Diego Llorente back from injury, the Spaniard was named on the bench with Luke Ayling continuing in the heart of the defence.
That came back to bite Leeds, with Neal Maupay opening the scoring after 15 minutes after losing Ayling far too easily at the back post.
It isn’t Ayling’s fault if he is caught out of position when playing in the middle of the defence, rather than at right-back.
But, it does begin to become his fault when he is caught out because of ball-watching – something you are taught not to do when you first start playing football.
Ayling needs to be back at right-back, and quick.
Bielsa and Leeds have managed to get away with this at times due to their attacking play, but when it starts to become a weekly occurrence Ayling getting caught out, it needs to change.
Many Leeds fans have reacted to the first-half display of Ayling, with the majority claiming that he was awful against the Seagulls.
Most of those admitted that Brighton’s goal was made far too easy due to his slack marking at the back post to allow Maupay to tap home.
MOT Leeds News have picked out some of the best reactions…
Terrible defending. So easy for Maupay. What was Ayling thinking 😟 #lufc
— JP.LUFC (@jonprecious) January 16, 2021
Ayling has had a nightmare there. #lufc
— Liam Tunney (@ismiseliam) January 16, 2021
That was stupidly easy for Brighton. Ayling completely lost. #LUFC
— Mat Thomas (@EmptyUK) January 16, 2021
Ayling was awful there
— lewis (@lewis__lufc) January 16, 2021
Ayling social distancing with Maupay a bit too much there #lufc
— Alexander Toon (C) 🏆 (@AlexanderToon94) January 16, 2021
Luke ayling is a disgrace
— tom (@tom28542744) January 16, 2021
My goodness Luke Ayling, what kind of defending was that?! Always told when you’re younger not to ball watch, awful defending #lufc #LEEBHA
— Chris Cooper (@ChrisCooper_22) January 16, 2021
That one's on Ayling, unfortunately. First mistake I've seen him make at centre-half. We've to pick up the intensity and quickly. #lufc
— Alejandro Boozeman III Esq. (@ChildishAlbeeno) January 16, 2021
In other Leeds United news, Thierry Henry makes ‘Amazing’ admission over the Whites
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