It is no wonder new Leeds chairman Ken Bates has made it clear the club can
bide their time in returning to the Premiership.
After watching his first game following his takeover eight days ago, Bates is
right to assume United are not ready for the top flight after manager Kevin
Blackwell's side threw away another two points at Elland Road.
Bates was nine minutes away from watching Leeds claim all three points, with
defender Clarke Carlisle seemingly gaining sweet revenge for the own goal that
condemned Leeds to defeat at Brighton at the end of October.
But Bates will have been left as grim-faced as the rest of the Leeds fans as
Guy Butters grabbed an 81st-minute equaliser to leave the Whites seven points
adrift of the play-offs.
Bates made a quiet, unassuming 'debut' as he took to the directors' box for
the first time, and after staying away from the games at Stoke and Derby in the
past seven days.
There was no fanfare for the 73-year-old, who opted against the prospect of
taking to the pitch to milk the acclaim from Leeds fans after saving the club
from administration.
In fact, no-one would have known Bates was looking on but for a tannoy
announcement a few minutes prior to kick off when his name was read out, which
was followed by appreciative applause.
Leeds made their customary 'house-on-fire' start, with Brighton at sixes and
sevens as they struggled to organise themselves.
Iceland international Gylfi Einarsson, making his full debut following his
recent move from Lillestrom, almost made an impact after 30 seconds.
Gary Kelly provided a pin-point cross from the right wing for the central
midfielder to power in a bullet header, albeit into the grateful arms of David
Yelldell, signed on loan from Blackburn for the rest of the season.
The lively Aaron Lennon provided the ammunition five minutes later, embarking
on a mazy run before delivering a cross into the heart of the area where Brian
Deane was thwarted in his attempt to get off a shot by the intervening Adam
Hinshelwood.
Unmarked skipper Paul Butler then drilled his header over to another Kelly
cross before Lennon saw a shot cleared off the line by Butters, both before the
15-minute mark.
But then Leeds faded, although they did enough defensively to restrict the
Seagulls to nothing more than long-range shots before fortuitously taking the
lead two minutes before the break.
A David Healy corner was flicked on by Einarsson into the path of Carlisle for
a drive that knocked Adam Virgo off his feet, resulting in a gap and a rebound
that allowed the centre-back to rifle home his third of the season and first for
two months.
At least Neil Sullivan, recalled to the Scotland squad this week by new
manager Walter Smith, was made to earn his corn after the break, tipping from
underneath his own bar a mis-hit cross by substitute Gary Hart.
Leon Knight was inches away with a 20-yard right foot shot soon after before
the Whites picked up the pace again with Kelly denied by Yelldell after a
one-two with Healy, who was also thwarted by the Brighton goalkeeper as he
attempted a curler.
But Leeds' failure to kill off the opposition again haunted them, with
Butters' flick to a deft Reid cross too much for Sullivan who could only help
the ball on its way.
There was still time for Charlie Oatway to be given a straight red card after
kicking out at Simon Walton, and for Eirik Bakke to make his return following
nine months on the sidelines through injury.
Teams
Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Carlisle, Richardson,
Walton (Bakke 88), Gregan, Einarsson, Lennon (Spring 78),
Deane, Healy.
Subs Not Used: Harrison, Ricketts, Griffit.
Booked: Deane, Bakke.
Goals: Carlisle 43.
Brighton Yelldell, Reid, Virgo, Hinshelwood, Butters, Mayo,
Carpenter, Oatway, Harding (Jones 63), Knight (Nicolas 89),
McCammon (Hart 51).
Subs Not Used: May, El-Abd.
Sent Off: Oatway (88).
Goals: Butters 81.
Att: 27,033
Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).
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