NafisaFormer Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk endured an uncomfortable return to the Whites as Brighton welcomed Daniel Farke’s side to the Amex.
It was the first time in eight years that Struijk has spent a season away from Elland Road, following his move to Brighton after Leeds decided to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing.
The Dutchman had become a familiar figure around West Yorkshire after establishing himself as an important part of the Leeds defence, making countless appearances and producing plenty of memorable moments during his time at the club.
But Saturday’s meeting with Brighton offered a very different experience.
Struijk did not make the starting XI for the Seagulls, meaning Leeds supporters had to wait until the closing stages before seeing their former defender enter the contest.
And when he eventually appeared, the reaction from the travelling support was impossible to miss.
The 27-year-old was given only a brief cameo in added time, managing just two touches before the final whistle.
Yet even that tiny window was enough for the Leeds fans behind the goal to make their feelings known.
Struijk was met with boos from the visiting supporters, a hostile reception for a player who spent eight years at Elland Road and had previously been regarded as an important member of the squad.
It is a reaction that may surprise some Leeds supporters, particularly given the length of his association with the club.
The circumstances surrounding his departure, however, have clearly left some fans unhappy.
Leeds and Struijk were unable to reach an agreement over a new contract, with his existing deal approaching its expiry.
Rather than allow the situation to drag on, the club opted to sell the defender, bringing an end to his lengthy spell in Yorkshire.
His move to Brighton means Struijk is now on the opposite side of the rivalry whenever the two clubs meet.
And Saturday’s reception suggested that his status with the Leeds support has already changed considerably.
With the match not being shown live on UK television, there were also plenty of moments from the Amex that supporters watching from home would have missed.
One of those involved Struijk’s new teammate, while another centred around Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.
James Trafford nearly causes warm-up chaos
Trafford was one of the more intriguing figures for Leeds during the trip to the south coast, particularly given his reputation for distribution and his ability to strike the ball over long distances.
During his pre-match warm-up, the England goalkeeper was practising his long kicking when one effort reportedly travelled so high that the Yorkshire Evening Post joked that Trafford “nearly took out the Brighton stadium announcer.”
It was clearly a tongue-in-cheek observation rather than a suggestion that the announcer was genuinely in danger, but it highlighted just how much power Trafford was putting behind his kicks.
That ability to launch the ball deep into opposition territory is one of the qualities Leeds identified when making him their priority for the number one position.
Trafford shares moment with Leeds fans after blunder
The goalkeeper was also involved in one of the more nervy moments of the match.
In the 35th minute, Trafford attempted to play the ball out from the back, only for his pass to be intercepted and Brighton to be presented with an opportunity.
Thankfully for Leeds, the Seagulls were unable to turn the mistake into a goal.
Trafford appeared to recognise that he had got away with one, and his reaction afterwards caught the attention of the travelling support.
The Leeds goalkeeper shared a cheeky smile with the away fans positioned behind his goal during the first half, acknowledging the error and the fact that it had not ultimately proved costly.
How was Pascal Struijk received by Leeds fans?
Struijk’s brief appearance came with the match already deep into added time.
Having spent eight years at Leeds, his first competitive appearance against his former club was always likely to attract attention, regardless of how long he actually spent on the pitch.
In the end, he barely had time to influence the game.
Two touches were all Struijk managed before the final whistle, but the travelling Leeds support still made sure he knew exactly how they felt about his return.
The boos were loud enough to underline the change in perception surrounding the defender.
Whether that reaction was deserved is another matter.
Struijk gave Leeds eight years of service and became a familiar face at Elland Road, but his decision to leave and the circumstances around his contract situation have clearly altered the mood among some supporters.
There is also every chance that the reception will be even more intense when Brighton eventually travel to Elland Road later in the campaign.
For now, though, Struijk has experienced his first taste of facing Leeds as an opponent.
And judging by the response from the travelling support at the Amex, the defender should expect a very different atmosphere when he returns to Yorkshire.
Nafisa
