MARTIN KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Brighton can have Leeds’ number with use of full backs in midfield…

Brighton’s success story is nothing short of a minor miracle and their fairytale ending would be to finish in the top four and spoil the Champions League party.

No matter who leaves the club, be it Graham Potter as manager a month into the season or Leandro Trossard or Yves Bissouma or Marc Cucurella, they refuse to live up to expectations that they will drop like a stone.

With Tony Bloom as owner, David Weir as manager and Roberto De Zerbi as manager, this is one of the best-run clubs in the country.

To understand how difficult it is to face Brighton, you only needed to listen to Declan Rice’s incredibly honest interview after West Ham’s 4-0 defeat last weekend.

Rice said they were played away from the pitch at Amex Stadium, describing Brighton as “unique” and saying she found it a “demoralizing” evening.

“I don’t want to feel like that again at a football game,” the Hammers captain said.

The Brighton front five of Evan Ferguson, Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma and Pascal Gross make a formidable attacking force.

But it is the movement of Brighton’s full-backs that is absolutely key to developing their game in the team compartments.

When Joel Veltman or Pervis Estupinan move to midfield, that’s the trigger for Gross to fly forward. He will leave his position along with Moisés Caicedo to push towards the right wing or join the striker.

This creates a subtle formation change and increases the number of players in the final third, going from four to three and giving them five attackers, sometimes six if the remaining full-back flies down their flank in tow.

Mac Allister and March can pick up the pockets behind the opposing midfield and get to work.

Mitoma tends to stay fixed to the left, but can also move across the front line to join Brighton’s deft exchange of passes and movement.

It’s not unlike what Arsenal or Manchester City do with their full-backs, and West Ham just couldn’t cope last weekend. Mitoma’s goal perfectly exemplified Brighton’s recurring movement routine.

He starts with right-back Veltman, moving to midfield, playing one-two with Gross. Veltman then hits a forward pass to Ferguson, who leaves it for March. His move in from the right flank gives Gross time and space to secure his position on the right flank.

March, traveling down the field, takes two players with him before playing a reverse pass into the path of Gross.

Gross then slides the ball to the back post for a bunt from Mitoma, who patiently held his position on the left. This whole move was a thing of beauty and a goal honed in practice.

It’s important to remember that none of this would have been possible if Brighton hadn’t had a winger to give them the extra man in midfield.

Mitoma, Mac Allister and March have 21 goals between them this season.

All three are producing eye-catching performances. March is in the best form of his career and has never had a better chance of being called up by England.

However, it is not just about the attackers. Brighton benefit from having Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk in defense. They’re like two bouncers, perfectly happy to guard the back door while everyone else wanders forward, comfortable in possession and outstanding in the air.

De Zerbi will know how much Leeds like to push high up the pitch and that battle will decide who wins Saturday’s game. When West Ham tried to press, they couldn’t come close.

The Brighton boss has taken this group to another level and will target this game as one to win to keep his top four dreams alive.