The media take on the 1-1 draw against Leeds United

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How the newspapers and websites reported Saturday's Amex action.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-09-06T10:00+01:00

Luka Vuskovic rises to head in Albion's equaliser. 📷Simon Roe

Albion’s 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United was not so much a game of two halves as a game of an hour and half an hour. And that is largely how the reporters in the Amex press box saw it.

Ben Bloom of The Guardian wrote that, “Having led through Jayden Bogle’s early tap-in, the visitors were utterly dominant for the best part of an hour, bullying their hosts and seeing a number of chances go to waste.

"By the time Brighton belatedly gained a grasp on things, Leeds’ xG sat at 2.5 and the hosts’ languished just above 0.1.

“Yet once the ignition had been sparked, Fabian Hurzeler’s side skipped second gear and went straight to fifth. A Luka Vuskovic header with 19 minutes remaining set up an unlikely thunderous finish from the hosts, which left Leeds clinging on to a point.

In all, Brighton managed an astonishing 17 shots after half-time, with their dominance ever increasing as the clock ticked down.

“Not since 2009, at the Withdean Stadium, have Leeds won a game at Brighton. Bogle’s goal was the first they had even scored in nine visits, stretching back to November 2012.”

In The Sunday Times, John Aizlewood wrote that “Brighton had 17 shots in an exhilarating second half and could have scored four again – but could have conceded four too.

“After the break Brighton pushed up more, offering support to Charalampos Kostoulas. Pascal Gross went close and Brighton created real chances. Malick Yalcouye was Brighton’s heartbeat and almost all their best work went through the 20-year-old.

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“Leeds neglected to heed the warnings and Vuskovic found the leveller midway though the second half. Galvanised by parity, Brighton hurtled towards a potential three points with Promise David and Yalcouye pushing a Leeds side that suddenly looked woozy at the back.”

Mail Online also enjoyed Yalcouye’s performance.

“The Ivorian has made an early impact this season after loan spells at Sturm Graz and Swansea City, scoring on his full Premier League debut for Brighton at Chelsea last weekend with a sensational volley.

"The 20-year-old midfielder has been compared to N’golo Kante and was voted man of the match against Leeds but was a surprise omission from Brighton’s 25-man UEFA Conference League squad on Friday.

"Boss Fabian Hurzeler has hinted that there might be ways that the neat and dynamic Yalcouye could still be squeezed in and on the evidence so far he must be hoping so.”

The Sun on Sunday reported that “only a superb recovery and clearance by skipper Dunk prevented Leeds going two up.

“Calvert-Lewin, looking miles offside but played through by a Brighton player, went round Verbruggen and shot at what was an empty net until Dunk slid across to block.

“Then Tanaka’s shot hit the bar.

“Brighton were struggling to find any rhythm at all, their passing lacking its usual zip.

“Their best effort of the first half came from Diego Gomez after 29 minutes but the Paraguayan’s powerfully-hit volley was easily dealt with by James Trafford.

“Leeds should have doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when Brighton made a mess of clearing an Ethan Ampadu long throw-in.

“The ball ran loose to Anton Stach but Verbruggen stuck out a leg to divert the ball to safety.

“And Brighton had another let off within seconds as Tanaka netted following a free kick only to be given offside by the narrowest of margins.

“Next Verbruggen saved from James Justin as Leeds continued to dominate.

“But while Brighton were somehow only one goal behind, they were still in with a chance if they could find a moment of inspiration.

“Kostoulas almost provided it after 68 minutes with a dribble past three defenders. But he ended it with a powder-puff finish straight into the arms of Trafford.

“But it woke the Amex crowd up and lifted the team.

“And when the equaliser came, it was as simple as you like. Max De Kuyper floated a corner to the far post and Vuskovic leapt unchallenged to head in.”

Kiefer MacDonald of the BBC Sport website thought that “how Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler views his side's performance will largely depend on which half he is analysing.

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Luka Vuskovic opened his Albion account with a second half back post header, to secure a valuable point against Leeds United in the sunshine at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Club photographers Paul Hazlewood, James Boardman and Simon Roe were on hand to capture all the key moments from the match.

“After thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex on the opening weekend of the season, the Seagulls were expected to make a lightning-quick start on home soil once again.

“But that was not the case. In fact, it was a similarly sluggish start to the one Brighton made at Chelsea six days ago, as they found themselves a goal down within the first 15 minutes of the match.

“The fact that Hurzeler's side have not won a Premier League fixture when falling behind for almost 10 months highlighted the size of the task facing his side.

“But once the home side struck an equaliser, there only seemed likely to be one winner.

“And by the time Gross fired over from only a couple of yards out in the final seconds of normal time, there was a feeling of frustration at the Amex that Brighton had missed the opportunity to end their unwanted Premier League streak.”