The American spoke out with an honest assessment on Saturday's defeat to Brighton
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
09:46, 03 Nov 2025
Brenden Aaronson
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Brenden Aaronson(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Halloween has come and gone but Leeds United fans can be forgiven for having a few nightmares after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton. What they saw was frightening.
No shot on target until the final five minutes of the game, their midfield battered and yet another pointless away trip. The only time Leeds have scored on the road in five attempts was September’s 3-1 win away at bottom club Wolves.
While the Whites went home howling that day, they would trudge back up to Yorkshire from Brighton with their tail between their legs. The lack of bite in attack on the road, yet again, is becoming an itch they cannot scratch.
Conceding early on also doesn’t help. While Leeds fought back after going behind at Wolves, Leeds whimpered after conceding so early on at Brighton. “We always knew it was going to be tough coming here to try and get a result,” Brenden Aaronson told LUTV.
“But it didn't help that we conceded such an early goal because then we’re chasing the game for the whole time and that's what they want. They're looking for an open game and we had to open up and try to play forward more.
“They were kind of comfortable when they could sit back a little bit too. We had a few good chances where we could have made more out of it, I think. It's difficult because there are little things always in the Premier League.
“It's a tough game to come here and get points, so we've just got to keep our heads up and go on to the next one.”
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Next up is Nottingham Forest - again - away from home. First Leeds must look back over what went wrong at Brighton. In their Monday analysis, they will see a player of their past come to haunt them.
Georginio Rutter was instrumental in Brighton’s third goal, pouncing on a Jayden Bogle error to drive forward, hold off former colleague Ethan Ampadu and pull back for Sergio Gomez to get his second of the match.
Opening goalscorer Danny Welbeck may be the sharp shooter of the Seagulls, but it was Gomez’s name that echoed around the Amex Stadium, which gave him and Rutter a grand ovation when they were substituted.
“It was a bit strange, I don't want to lie - but it's football,” Rutter told Leeds Live when asked about facing Leeds for the first time since his exit last season. “When I took to the pitch and I see the fans, obviously, I remember the good times I had with them. So it was very special today.”
Georginio Rutter
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Georginio Rutter(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
His words will be appreciated by those in the away end but will hardly soothe their angst. There is a very real possibility Leeds go into the November international break within a point of the bottom three.
“We don't have to over analyse the game. Today they were the better side,” Daniel Farke admitted at full time. “They deserved to win this game and there is no sugar-coating it.”
Farke was not about to play any tricks - Leeds were hardly a treat to watch. Brighton found it as easy as taking candy from a baby at times.
Saturday was a lot for Leeds to stomach. The party prompted by the previous win against West Ham United is well and truly over.
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