Team News
Curtis Davies will face a fitness test after hurting his leg against Bristol City. Pablo Ibanez is still recovering from concussion. Wade Elliott is definitely out.
Leeds will check on winger Robert Snodgrass who has a back injury.
Previous Meeting
The last meeting was in February 2007 at St Andrews and finished 1-0 to Blues with a goal from Nicklas Bendtner. Leeds were relegated to League One at the end of that season.
Recent Form
Blues are on a run of five straight wins including three in the league. With three games in hand on most teams above them they currently sit fourteenth. They have conceded just one goal at home all season in the league.
Leeds are fifth and are in equally good form with four wins and two draws from their last six games. Away from home they have an even record of won two, drawn two and lost two. They have scored three goals in each of their last three away games.
Outlook
It’s time to start catching up. Tonight is the first of three games we have in hand and a win would see us jump up to eighth. All our games in hand are at home so realistically we can consider our true position to be alongside Leeds in the playoffs. Of course even with our current form we can’t take wins for granted especially against a good Leeds side that have been scoring for fun on their travels recently.
Leeds United are a team back on the up after financial mis-management and points deductions took them to League One for a few seasons. They must be considered one of our key rivals for the playoff places and will provide tough opposition this evening. I also expect that playing three games in six days will take its toll on Blues. Against Bristol City on Sunday there were a few sloppy moments that would have been punished by a better side so we need to up our game. Changes may be made especially as we play again only three days later but I haven’t see too many signs of players being tired. The likes of Guirane N’Daw, Nikola Zigic, Morgaro Gomis, Keith Fahey and Marlon King haven’t played that many games mostly due to injury so the majority of those should play. Chris Wood and Chris Burke will just want to play in every game with the form they are in.
While Leeds have been free scoring away from home they have also been conceding almost as many so I can see a few goals in this game. We have seriously tightened up at the back since shipping four at Southampton and only Danny Butterfield’s wonder goal for Barnsley has hit the back of our net at home this year. Can that run continue? Can we notch up a sixth straight win? Can we break into the top half? Can I get two predictions in a row correct?
Let’s find out.
Blues 2 Leeds 1
C’mon you Blue Boys.
Click Here for Kev’s Joys and Sorrows Blues v Leeds ‘Q&A’ at Leeds United blog ‘The Offside’
Click Here for The Offside’s Blues v Leeds match preview. They have noticed Chris Wood’s scoring form!
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