Hull City and Leeds United will face off in their first Yorkshire Derby since 2020.
There will be a Yorkshire Derby this week as Hull City welcome a resurgent Leeds United to the MKM Stadium on Wednesday evening as the EFL Championship table starts to take shape.
The Tigers are currently fifth in the table, two points ahead of Leeds going into the game. Daniel Farke’s men have momentum going in their clash given the four-game unbeaten run in the league. Following a poor start to the campaign, the Peacocks are finally starting to find their stride.
Hull are also on a five-game unbeaten run and will be aiming to be in the hunt for a playoff spot come the business end of the season. A win on the night for either side is worth six points given that they are expected to be direct rivals when it comes to a top-six finish.
Liam Rosenior’s arrival at the MKM Stadium has certainly raised the stakes at Hull, and they will be aiming to do much better than last season’s 15th-placed finish. While a top-two finish would be beyond them, there is always a chance that a playoff spot can be secured. This is especially true if they are able to defeat teams like Leeds who are expected to be in the fray for the same.
Hull defeated another title favourite, Leicester City earlier this campaign, handing the Foxes their only setback so far this campaign. Surely, they will relish their chance against a Leeds side not exactly known for their defensive stability.
Leeds have held the upper hand in the fixture in recent seasons and will see that record put to the test on the night. It promises to be a feisty game between two sides vying for Yorkshire supremacy and bragging rights. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Hull City
It’s almost time ⌛️#hcafc pic.twitter.com/gwWcEjvlKG
— Hull City (@HullCity) September 19, 2023
Liam Rosenior’s men will be brimming with confidence and will be keen to finally end Leeds’s dominance in the future in recent years. In fact, while Leeds United came away with a win on penalties in the League Cup in 2020, one will have to go all the way back to 2018 to find their last league win over Leeds.
Having already defeated Leicester earlier this season, the Tigers should have reasonable confidence, especially so given the home support to boot. Hull dominated proceedings against Coventry City at the weekend but had to rely on a late Aaron Connolly strike to salvage a point. Surely, they will offer more of a challenge on Wednesday.
The home side will have to do so without Greg Docherty, Dogukan Sinik. and Ozan Tufan. Whether Liverpool loanee Tyler Morton will make the cut on the night remains to be seen. A 4-2-3-1 formation appears to be the way to go with veteran Matt Ingram in goal. He will be protected by the back four of Lewie Coyle, Alfie Jones, Jacob Greaves and Cyrus Christie.
Regan Slater and Jean Michael Seri will form the double pivot and will be aiming to seize control of the middle of the park. The duo’s physicality and athleticism will play a key role in dictating the pace of the game. How well they can control the game will dictate the ease with which the front four can cause havoc upfield.
The trio of Liam Delap, Scott Twine and Jaden Philogene will form the attacking midfield trio, providing star striker Aaron Connolly with the service needed to make the difference. Morton impressed at the weekend while Philogene enjoyed a man-of-the-match award-worthy debut. With Delap also making waves, Rosenior can be reasonably confident of his side’s chances.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ingram; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Christie; Slater, Seri; Delap, Twine, Philogene; Connolly
Leeds United
Daniel Farke and his men have largely steadied the shi[p following a poor start to the season. A run of four games without a loss has seen them rise up the rankings and well within reach of a playoff spot.
While Leeds will harbour bigger ambitions, it is a good way to reverse the damage done by the early struggles and create a winning habit that can take them back to the Premier League. Hull have proved to be dogged opponents this season and winning away to the Tigers will be a confidence booster.
The visitors still have several injury concerns with Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo still out injured. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Djed Spence is now ruled out for up to eight weeks and will join his teammates on the sidelines.
Liam Cooper is a doubt for the game and even if he returns, should only make it to the bench. Farke has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from and si expected to retain the side that dispatched Millwall 3-0 last weekend.
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 19, 2023
The 4-2-3-1 formation is likely to be retained with Illan Meslier in goal. The Frenchman will; be protected by the back four of Luke Ayling, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Sam Byram.
Archie Gray and Ethan Ampadu will form the double pivot and will be tasked with the key job of holding the fort in the middle of the park. The latter has a knock but is expected to be fit in time for the game.
Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto should provide the width with last weekend’s hero, Joel Piroe donning the number 10 role. Georginio Rutter also scored at the weekend and should reprise his role at the head of the Leeds attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Struijk, Rodon, Byram; Gray, Ampadu; Summerville, Piroe, Gnonto; Rutter
Key Stats
- Hull City have lost five of their last eight league games against Leeds United.
- A win on the night will see Leeds win three away games in a row against Hull City for the first time ever.
- Hull City have won just two of their last ten league games against fellow Yorkshire clubs.
- Leeds United last lost an away game to a Yorkshire-based club in the league in 2018, that is their only loss in the last 12 games against such opposition.
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#LUFC x @weareboxt pic.twitter.com/uHohmJm0OC
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 18, 2023
The summer signing has enjoyed a fine start to life in Elland Road and has five goals in seven appearances for Leeds across all competitions this season. He scored twice at the weekend against Milwall and will once again be the man to watch against Hull City.
Piroe adds a new dimension to the Leeds attack and could become the catalyst for a concentrated run of form where they can rack up wins. As long as Hull can keep the former Swansea man quiet, they have a solid chance of leaving Leeds frustrated.
Prediction
Hull City 1-2 Leeds United
Hull City are a solid side that should challenge the status quo this season. However, they slipped up against Coventry City and will face a far more difficult opponent in Leeds. The Peacocks are building their own legacy and appear to be going from strength to strength. The game will be hard fought one with Leeds’s quality upfront making the difference on the night.
