‘Really poor’ – Matt Upson rages at Sean Longstaff after what he did in Leeds defeat vs Brighton
Matt Upson was less than impressed with Sean Longstaff’s early performance for Leeds against Brighton.
Leeds have had a good season so far, but their display at the Amex was below average, and that may be being generous.
Daniel Farke’s side fell to a 3-0 defeat away to Brighton on Saturday afternoon, with Danny Welbeck and Diego Gomez on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Several players were far from their best for Leeds on this occasion, though Upson was specifically frustrated with Longstaff after a moment in the first half.
Leeds failed to take advantage of set pieces vs Brighton
After Welbeck gave the hosts the lead after 10 minutes, Leeds were left fighting an uphill battle against a side that hasn’t suffered defeat at home since April.
The Seagulls were resolute defensively, and if Leeds were going to get at them, it was always going to be on the counter or from set pieces.
After half an hour, the Whites had a chance to take advantage of the latter, but Longstaff, who has generally impressed for Leeds, delivered a short cross, and when the ball rebounded out to him, he was caught offside.
Upson, when commenting via the world feed, immediately expressed his dismay at the delivery, feeling let down by the former Newcastle man.
“Poor set play,” he said.
“Really poor delivery into the box, nowhere near the height or delivery that is needed.”
The Whites managed just two shots in the first half of their clash at the Amex, showcasing their struggles to create any goalscoring opportunities.
- Read more: Willy Gnonto finished at Leeds United as latest announcement hands Daniel Farke easy decision
Daniel Farke needs to work on Leeds’ set pieces
After 10 games, Leeds have scored directly from a corner on just one occasion, with Joe Rodon’s goal against Bournemouth.
The Welshman has two goals this season, but his second arrived from the second phase of play.
It’s up there with the worst records in the Premier League for goals from corners, despite the height advantage that the Whites typically have in games, which was clearly something they prioritised in the summer window.
While Noah Okafor can work his magic from time to time, Leeds need to have several routes to goal, and after another day following similar trends, they simply don’t.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Leeds United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @motleedsnews