Midfielder wins praise after destruction of Poyet’s Brighton (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Midfielder wins praise after destruction of Poyet’s Brighton

1:56pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

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Brighton 0, Leeds United 3

Midfielder Neil Kilkenny crowned his best performance of the season with a late goal as Leeds comfortably extended their lead in League One to six points and inflicted a first defeat on Brighton’s recently-appointed manager Gus Poyet.

Kilkenny has now scored in the last two games after going 19 appearances since finding the target at home to Tranmere in April.

A 3-0 victory at rain-lashed Withdean Stadium failed to reflect United’s overwhelming superiority, with Robert Snodgrass and Jermaine Beckford scoring first-half goals.

Brighton never looked like preventing United’s fourth clean sheet in five matches and the leaders go into Tuesday’s home game against Leyton Orient with confidence sky-high.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson said: “From first whistle to last, the players worked their socks off and it was a very professional performance.

“We could have been four or five goals up at half-time, we looked very solid when Brighton were in possession and were well in command long before the third goal went in.

“Neil Kilkenny’s 50 or 60-yard pass for Jermaine Beckford’s goal was out of this world. If it had been made in the Premiership, people would be talking about it for weeks.

“Neil has had to be patient because Jonny Howson and Micky Doyle have done a good job for us over the last couple of months and I haven’t changed the team too often.

“I told Neil he would get an opportunity somewhere down the line. He took his chance against Grimsby in the JPT and, with Bradley Johnson out injured at Brighton, Neil and Micky bossed the midfield, that’s for sure.”

Johnson (thigh) and captain Richard Naylor (calf) are both rated doubtful for Tuesday night’s game and Sunday’s televised FA Cup tie at Kettering after missing the trip to the south coast.

Grayson warned that the Poyet factor could have an influence, with the former Elland Road assistant manager looking to make it three wins out of three since taking charge of the Seagulls, but Brighton never posed a serious threat.

Poyet was given a respectful reception by Leeds’ travelling fans in recognition of his exploits during his time as Dennis Wise’s assistant.

But with Doyle and especially Kilkenny dominant, United did most of the attacking and took a thoroughly deserved 27th-minute lead.

The lively Kilkenny found Beckford, who laid the ball off for Snodgrass to fire into the far corner with his left foot for his fourth goal of the season.

Snodgrass, operating on the left, was a constant threat to the home defence and, from the Scot’s pass, Beckford shot against a post two minutes after the goal.

Beckford was not to be denied and in the 43rd minute Kilkenny played that long, accurate ball to him. United’s top scorer needed no second invitation to tuck his shot into the bottom corner for his 13th goal of the season and his 67th since joining from Wealdstone in March 2006.

Patrick Kisnorbo should have made it three in the 58th minute but the Australian international failed to get his head to the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Brighton had to wait until just after the hour for their first scoring chance but a cross from skipper Dean Cox was turned wide by Glenn Murray – and Casper Ankergren did not have a menacing shot to save.

Just before the end, Leeds burst forward with Beckford and substitute David Prutton setting up the chance for Kilkenny to round off the win after he had raced from deep inside his own half.

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