Leeds United's 10-month growth clear as Daniel Farke and Gabi Gudmundsson make identical Brighton point
The Leeds United manager and his defender both assessed Saturday’s draw vs Brighton in the context of a damning defeat last season.
Gabriel Gudmundsson admits the Leeds United of last year would probably have lost at Brighton on Saturday - their hard-fought point a ‘really good step in the right direction’.
Gudmundsson returned from injury to make his first appearance of the season at the Amex, playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw. The Swedish international impressed overall but was guilty of losing Luka Vuskovic from a corner for Brighton’s equaliser, following an early opener from Jayden Bogle.
A heavy spell of Brighton pressure followed that goal but Leeds defended well and had chances of their own to win it, most notably for substitute Lukas Nmecha who saw a goalbound shot blocked. Gudmundsson made a point of mentioning last season’s dismal 3-0 defeat on the south coast but insists things are different this time round.
”We know they are a very difficult team to press,” Gudmundsson said. “They are very good at keeping the ball, good at finding pockets, but I think we showed really good resilience and fought very well. Credit to everyone.
“We fought very well, and with a little bit of luck today, maybe we could have taken three points with the good chances we created. We had really good confidence from the last three games. We knew we were going to get really pressed straight away.
“But again, we stood up really well in the first half and then in the second half when they had to hunt for the game, we stayed calm, defended the box. We did really well. Probably last year, we’d have lost that game. So today, a really good step in the right direction for the team.”
Gudmundsson was not the first to reflect on last season’s defeat either. Manager Daniel Farke mentioned the performance - arguably one of his side’s worst of the campaign - in his pre-game press conference and pointed to it again after full-time.
“Yes, of course, a few players were involved,” he said of that defeat 10 months ago. “So for that, we travelled respectfully and knowing what Brighton can do, especially in home games, have had so many good results, especially against the top sides in this league.
“We were very respectful but due to our really good last season, our good pre-season, our good start into the season and some good signings, we also travelled with confidence. It was important to have a good balance of being respectful and switched on, but also confidence, and I think this was the key.
“Of course it’s a different group and there is nothing you can repair that happened last season. I think how we started the game, we started pressing on the front foot and wanted to make sure we didn’t allow them to play their processes. We had many good wins of the ball and played also with confidence.”