Championship
LeedsLeeds United1BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion2

Leeds United 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora's last goal for Brighton came against Grimsby on 4 May 2003

Substitute Bobby Zamora scored his first goal for Brighton since returning to the club to give the Championship leaders a late win at Leeds.

The veteran striker showed a great touch to chip the ball past home goalkeeper Marco Silvestri in the 89th minute.

After a quiet opening, Solly March gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute with a low finish.

Leeds levelled through Liam Cooper's glancing header from a free-kick.

Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora left Brighton for Tottenham in July 2002 before rejoining the club from QPR this summer

Zamora's goal was his first for the Seagulls since May 2003 and helped them extend their lead at the top to four points and stretch their club-record unbeaten start to the season to 11 games.

In contrast, Uwe Rosler's men have now won just one of their last six matches and are winless in their last 11 home games - a new club record.

The hosts had started brightly before Beram Kayal played March through on goal and the 21-year-old kept his composure to score his first of the season inside the first 15 minutes.

Leeds responded well and got a deserved equaliser in the 23rd minute when Cooper flicked Alex Mowatt's free-kick beyond Seagulls keeper David Stockdale.

Mowatt came close to giving Leeds the advantage after the break when he charged down a Stockdale clearance and the ball hit the outside of the post.

March hit the bar and Tomer Hemed saw an effort saved by Silvestri before veteran Zamora won it with a lovely finish when the hosts were down to 10 men, with Cooper having gone off injured with all three substitutes used.

Leeds United head coach Uwe Rosler:

"Things are just not going for us at the moment. There were three key moments in the game. They scored from their first attack and I feared the worst but we showed terrific character and got a quick equaliser.

"The second key moment was when Chris Wood didn't take his unbelievable opportunity. The game looked like ending 1-1 so we brought on Mirco Antenucci and Will Buckley to try and win it but the third key moment was Liam Cooper's injury, leaving us with 10 men.

"Having said all that, we can't feel sorry for ourselves. There are a lot of people far worse off than us so we have to pick ourselves up and go again. I feel a bit sorry for the players, supporters and owner. When you invest as much as the players do in training and get so little back it's disappointing."

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton:

"We deserve to be where we are at the moment. We were probably not at our best today but we showed a willingness to fight to the end and get the right result. Bobby Zamora came on and scored about ten minutes later and I am delighted for him.

"We know what he gives us but it was a team effort at that stage of a game that seemed to be petering out into a draw. Bobby wasn't up to speed in pre-season, so we knew it would take time, but we have been able to use him at the right times.

"He gave us exactly what we needed when he came on. The players very much wanted to win the game and it showed."

Liam Cooper
Liam Cooper scored just his second goal for Leeds to level the scores before the break
Brighton celebrate
Brighton players celebrate Solly March giving them an early lead

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Silvestri
  • 4Wootton
  • 3Bamba
  • 6Cooper
  • 28Berardi
  • 23L Cook
  • 24Adeyemi
  • 10MowattSubstituted forAntenucciat 68'minutes
  • 20BotakaSubstituted forByramat 78'minutes
  • 9Wood
  • 15DallasSubstituted forBuckleyat 62'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Byram
  • 5Bellusci
  • 7Antenucci
  • 8Murphy
  • 25Buckley
  • 27Phillips
  • 30Horton

Brighton

Formation 4-4-2

  • 13Stockdale
  • 2BrunoBooked at 80mins
  • 3GreerSubstituted forHünemeierat 40'minutes
  • 5Dunk
  • 12BongBooked at 90mins
  • 23RoseniorSubstituted forCroftsat 60'minutes
  • 7Kayal
  • 6Stephens
  • 20March
  • 10HemedSubstituted forZamoraat 78'minutes
  • 9Baldock

Substitutes

  • 1Mäenpää
  • 4Hünemeier
  • 8Crofts
  • 14Calderon
  • 19Manu
  • 24Ince
  • 25Zamora
Referee:
Darren Deadman
Attendance:
22,736

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBrighton
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home6
Away14
Shots on Target
Home2
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.

  3. Post update

    Andrew Crofts (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Lewis Cook (Leeds United).

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Sam Baldock (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bobby Zamora.

  6. Booking

    Gaëtan Bong (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Gaëtan Bong (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  8. Post update

    William Buckley (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Gaetano Berardi (Leeds United).

  10. Post update

    Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high.

  12. Goal!

    Goal! Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2. Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gaëtan Bong with a through ball.

  13. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  14. Post update

    Delay in match Liam Cooper (Leeds United) because of an injury.

  15. Booking

    Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  17. Post update

    William Buckley (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Sam Byram replaces Jordan Botaka.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Bobby Zamora replaces Tommer Hemed.

  20. Post update

    Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Solly March tries a through ball, but Sam Baldock is caught offside.