Brighton 0, Leeds United 2

 Leeds are bracing themselves for more Premier League interest in Fabian Delph after the Bradford-born midfielder’s latest goal of genuine quality at Brighton.

After a week in which chairman Ken Bates revealed news of approaches for Delph from two top-flight clubs, the England Under-21 international lived up to his high reputation, capped by a long run and curling shot into the top corner eight minutes from the end.

Bates insists it would take something completely out of the blue to prise the gifted teenager away from Elland Road.

United manager Simon Grayson said: “His shot found the top corner and showed what the lad is all about. If he scores goals like that, his value is going to go up. It certainly won’t go down!

“We have said all along that we are not in a position where we have to sell him. If somebody offers us absolutely ridiculous money we will consider it, as we would with all players.

“He has shown his quality again here, not only with his goal but his all-round performance. He and Jonathan Douglas mastered the midfield area and contributed to an all-round team effort.”

Delph’s touch of class and Lee Trundle’s equally well-taken goal, in his first start since signing on loan from Bristol City, enabled United to complete a league double over lowly Brighton as they registered their first clean sheet since November 1 at Cheltenham.

Trundle took his goal cleverly on the hour, latching on to Luciano Becchio’s flick-on and turning adroitly to shoot left-footed past John Sullivan.

Becchio’s assistance for the goal atoned for the Argentinian’s tenth-minute penalty failure, Sullivan saving the spot-kick with his trailing leg after Adam El-Abd was penalised for pushing and collected a yellow card.

Leeds featured four changes from the team beaten at home by Carlisle – including debuts for on-loan pair Richard Naylor and Carl Dickinson, who helped shore up the defence.

Grayson said: “Defenders are there to put their bodies on the line and Richard and Carl were outstanding. The others in the back four responded to them being in the team.”

In a ragged first half, the sides squandered one clear chance each. After Becchio had spurned that opportunity to add to his 12 goals for the season, Brighton’s Stuart Fleetwood should have scored on 25 minutes.

Naylor misjudged the bounce of the ball, leaving Fleetwood with only Casper Ankergren to beat, but he had his shot turned round a post by the Leeds keeper.

After Trundle had opened the scoring, United lost skipper Frazer Richardson with a 65th-minute thigh injury that is not regarded as serious.

Andy Robinson’s arrival from the bench livened up proceedings and Delph duly punished Brighton’s retreating defence with that exquisite finish.

Malcolm Christie should have added a third Leeds goal, the substitute shooting wide when well placed.

Peterborough can be expected to provide a tougher test at Elland Road on Saturday, although leading scorer Jermaine Beckford should be back on recovery from a hamstring injury.

Grayson said: “We deserved the win. It was a workmanlike performance. We lost concentration a couple of times but we were not punished for it.

“The players showed their resilience after the shock of the penalty miss and the clean sheet will boost confidence for the remaining games.”