match preview: bighton
By Josh Evans
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch says preparing for Sunday’s crucial home game has been ‘a little tricky’ due to Brighton’s style of play but knows ‘we need a result’
It goes without saying that the last three matches against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have done nothing but increase the anxiety of relegation despite expecting little in the way of results.
Two final games against Brighton and Brentford have now become make-or-break in our survival bid, a task the backroom staff is well aware of.
“We have to focus so much of our energies, especially in this last week with just regenerating and going again and, and knowing that our backs are against the wall,” added Marsch.
Three defeats in a row have dampened enthusiasm around Marsch’s reign in such an important part of the season.
It also represents three defeats where the games have almost cartwheeled away from us due to moments of poor decision-making, something that cannot afford to happen on Sunday.
“We know that being aggressive but not again, overzealous and whether it's discipline or the pressure of the moment, or that the players want to achieve so badly.
“It's a combination of things. And so certainly, we know that going into these last two matches, we can't afford to pick up any more red cards,” claimed Marsch.
When the board targeted Marsch as an ideal replacement for Marcelo Bielsa, we didn’t expect to see such a change in style, especially mid-season.
It seems to have limited some of our most attractive players on the eye such as Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, however, in time, he understands this isn’t the finished article.
Marsch continued: “It's clear that it's not anywhere near ultimately what I would like it to look like.
“The mentality of the group and the idea of what a team is and the work ethic is always there which makes working with this team and these players a lot of fun.”
‘On the beach’ is a saying that often comes around this time of the season, but it also corresponds with the time of the year that Brighton and Brentford have performed exceptionally.
Graham Potter’s men have picked up 13 points in their last six games, with wins over Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, and Manchester United making this one a difficult one to judge.
“If you watch their game against Manchester United last weekend, you wouldn't have said that, you would have said what an incredible performance.
“So we watched that match when we were in the hotel down in London. And we saw a team that was very clear, very confident, good with the ball, good against the ball. And I think that's exactly what we'll expect again,” said Marsch.
Brentford have exactly the same record in the form table and have picked up notable three points against Chelsea, West Ham, Watford, and Southampton.
But with the growing anticipation of Patrick Bamford’s return to the side, it could come just in time following suspensions to Luke Ayling and Dan James, and the injury to Stuart Dallas.
“I think everybody's working together. It's our medical team. It's Patrick.
“It's us as a coaching staff just trying to evaluate where he's at and what's the potential for him to be able to help us,” added Marsch.