By Tim Hodges
Leeds United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion secured a play-off place with an incident-packed win at Elland Road.
Will Buckley gave the Seagulls the lead with just ten minutes gone, latching on to a loose ball and sliding his shot past Paddy Kenny.
Soon after Rodolph Austin appeared to palm off Ashley Barnes, rugby league style, and was shown a straight red card for his trouble.
Although down to ten men, Leeds pressed Albion for the remainder of the half.
The Seagulls went in ahead at the break.
It was much the same story in the second half with ten-man Leeds really trying to penetrate the Albion.
The travelling fans from Sussex appeared to have taken a dislike to Leeds forward El Hadji Diouf but the Senegalese striker won and converted the penalty that allowed Leeds to equalise after Inigo Calderon fouled him.
Calderon was sent off and will miss next week’s match at home to Wolves.
Soon after scoring, Diouf was the third player to be dismissed after he allegedly made an obscene gesture towards the Albion fans.
The Seagulls won the match with two minutes left. Andrea Orlandi played in a sweeping cross that was headed in from just inside the six-yard box by Leo Ulloa.
Albion’s last match of the regular season looks interestingly poised. Wolves, relegated from the Premier League only last season, need to beat the Seagulls by four clear goals to avoid the drop to League 1 while hoping that Peterborough and possibly Barnsley both lose to Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town respectively.
Albion will be guaranteed fourth place on Tuesday evening (30 April) if Palace fail to beat Millwall at the New Den although Millwall could still be relegated.
If Albion can hold on to fourth place, they are likely to play their first play off match away on Friday 10 May with the second leg at home on Monday 13 May.
