A blind back pass and missed opportunities reignited ghosts of the past as the Seagulls squandered a golden chance to secure European qualification amidst Elland Road’s deafening roar.
Brighton and Hove Albion's trip up to Leeds had all the marks to be one of the best away days in modern history. The club had the opportunity to qualify for Europe with a game in hand, with results even going their way across the country.
This article will not be the typical match report, but in the interests of fan sanity, it feels appropriate to tap into that emotion at full-time.
While it would be easy to sit back and analyse the game to the bare minimum, the final whistle unlocked a series of emotions incomparable to many over the past 9 years of being in the Premier League.
Albion have been known for their 'bottle' moments.
The Play-Offs were some of the worst memories in modern Brighton memories, and the gut-wrenching feeling of watching them celebrate while you feel sick to the stomach never fails to amaze. Weirdly, the season isn't even over, but the manner of the defeat today saw some fans losing their minds both in the stands and online.
Jan Paul Van Hecke's infamous moment of the game was a tough watch, to say the least. The back pass was light, blind, and seemingly mindless. Van Hecke has made Albion fans question him for the first time. Has he checked out? Why has he not signed a new deal? Most importantly, how has he made three costly mistakes in a row during a European race?
Albion still had the opportunity to win the game, and before the Brentford goal in London, the Seagulls had all but qualified for European football for only the second time in their history. Dominic Calvert-Lewin rounded Bart Verbruggen, and Elland Road lost it.
The noise was unbearable, followed by the sinking into the back of the rattly seat while trying your very best not to look at the home end was unthinkable. We'd done it again. It was Sheffield Wednesday and Palace at home all over again.
With credit to Daniel Farke and Leeds, they did a very good job on Albion. Fabian Hürzeler's side struggled in the first half, and despite missed second-half chances, were subject to baffling substitutions and bitter disappointment throughout the game.
A fear unlocked towards taking the chance and going for the goal. Jack Hinshelwood had been in good goalscoring form before the game, but struggled to put a hatful away today.
Why was the top scorer sitting on the bench? While chasing the game, there were too many brilliant chances to take the game away from the home side. Overall, it was a classic moment of struggling to finish the job at a stereotypical tough place to go. Remember Aston Villa on the final day in the Championship?
Of course, there is still one game left, and Albion can still get the job done. However, I just wanted to see a different Brighton. I didn't want the script to be obvious.
I didn't want repeats of the past. I didn't want the people telling me before the game that "we never make it easy, that's the Brighton way" to be remotely true. Unfortunately, again, it was.
The 'other' Brighton simply has to turn up against Manchester United, as the thought of European football can still allow fans to dare to dream.