Welbeck scores again as Brighton breeze past Leeds

Danny Welbeck scored for a third successive Premier League game as Brighton climbed into the top half of the table with a comfortable win over Leeds United.

The 34-year-old netted the opener for the hosts in the 11th minute, volleying home from close range to finish off a brilliant team move that involved Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer.

It was Welbeck's sixth goal of the season and fourth in three league games as he continued his fine recent form.

Brighton took command after that with Diego Gomez adding two more in six second-half minutes on his return to the starting line-up to seal a dominant success for Fabian Hurzeler's side.

It could have been more for the hosts as Welbeck and Minteh also went close.

Leeds were restricted to few opportunities, but threatened to restore parity seconds before the interval when midfielder Sean Longstaff had an effort blocked inside the box by Jan Paul van Hecke.

In the pouring rain at the Amex, the start of the second half was a much more open affair but Gomez's quickfire double - his first in the Premier League since May - killed off the game as a contest.

The Paraguay midfielder first tapped in after more good work from Minteh on the right wing in the 64th minute, before driving home a cutback from ex-Leeds forward Georginio Rutter.

It was a fourth win in 10 games for Brighton, who also kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Leeds, who had not won at the Seagulls in the league since 2009, remain in 16th place, five points clear of the relegation zone.

Brighton analysis: Seagulls finally cash in on chances

After two defeats in a week on the road - to Manchester United last Saturday and a Carabao Cup loss to a much-changed Arsenal on Wednesday - Brighton were hoping to regroup back at home.

One persistent talking point from those two losses was their inability to convert the chances that came their way.

Hurzeler's men attempted more shots than their opponents in those games - 15 to Manchester United's 13 and 17 to Arsenal's 13 - but were outscored by four goals.

When Yasin Ayari escaped the attention of Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu and drilled straight at goalkeeper Lucas Perri nine minutes in, it provided a feeling of deja vu.

But Welbeck struck two minutes later to allay those fears as Minteh delightfully lifted a ball over the Leeds backline for right-back Wieffer to square for the in-form frontman to apply a simple finish.

Welbeck also scored twice in wins over both Chelsea and Newcastle and netted in the loss at Old Trafford too, giving England boss Thomas Tuchel food for thought before he announces his squad for the games against Serbia and Albania.

There was further cause for optimism for Hurzeler as Gomez, a replacement for Maxim de Cuyper, clinched the victory with his second-half double to finally display the ruthlessness they had lacked recently.

A second clean sheet in 22 league games was also welcome for Brighton, who extended their unbeaten home run to nine in the process.

Leeds analysis: Farke's men struggle again

Leeds posted a crucial first win in four matches against struggling West Ham last week.

While the result was a boost to their chances of survival this season, it came against a side with the worst defensive record in the league and the visit to the south coast presented a far more formidable challenge for Daniel Farke's men.

And so it proved as they left Brighton on the back of a 10th successive loss in league meetings after a hapless defensive display.

They also lacked creativity and attacking threat, with just two shots on target from a paltry five attempts.

Farke's side have failed to score in five of their 10 games this term, with only Nottingham Forest - who have drawn blanks in six - worse off.

Leeds have also lost five of their six away trips, leaving Farke with problems to solve if his side are to remain clear of the bottom three.

What's next for these teams?

Brighton will head to London next week to play Crystal Palace on Sunday, 9 November (14:00 GMT) in their last fixture before the international break.

Leeds will be at the City Ground on the same day to face third-bottom Nottingham Forest (14:00 GMT).