Leeds United will continue their push towards the automatic promotion places as they take on mid-table Preston North End.
Ryan Lowe has been under intense pressure after losing five of the last seven Championship games. The Preston North End boss will want his side to show character when they take on promotion hopefuls Leeds United in this crunch encounter.
Since their win over Huddersfield Town, Preston have lost each of their last two games on their travels. First, it was against Watford, where Lowe’s side took the lead before the Hornets came back storming to secure a 5-1 win. Then, against Swansea City, they fell victim to a late goal from the Welsh side.
Now, the challenge is much bigger against Leeds United for Preston North End. But the Whites are not invincibles by any margin, as their results against Rotherham United and Sunderland showed. Hence, Lowe will take his side in this contest aiming to inflict pain.
Daniel Farke continues to get things right in an otherwise gruelling season at Leeds United. The Elland Road outfit aim to maintain momentum and keep pushing for a top-two finish, which will eventually guarantee automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Heading into the Boxing Day fixture against Preston North End, Farke will hope to have a repeat of the performances against Ipswich Town. Leeds are still seven points behind their rivals in the hunt for the automatic promotion places, as another win will continue to apply pressure on Ipswich.
For all their success and the 45 points on board, Leeds have shown good form at home but could be more confident when they travel to places. Farke will hope to have a change in that scenario when they visit Preston in a crunch Boxing Day clash in the EFL Championship.
Team News & Tactics
Preston North End
Ryan Lowe will set his side in line with what he might want from his players against Leeds United. Liam Millar scored as a substitute, which could put him back into contention in that left wing-back slot in place of Robbie Brady.
Incidentally, Brady suffered an ankle injury. So, his participation on Boxing Day remains a big doubt, while Emil Riis Jakobsen is also out of the picture. Lowe will keep preferring a three-man unit at the back, with Jordan Storey marshalling the central defence, with Liam Lindsay and Andrew Hughes on either side of him.
With Millar at left wing-back, Brad Potts will occupy a similar role on the right-hand side. Squeezed between those two in midfield, Ali McCann and Ryan Ledson will take their places in the centre. Alan Browne will focus on creating goals for the two central strikers as Milutin Osmajic and Ched Evans take leading roles up front.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Cornell; Lindsay, Storey, Hughes; Potts, McCann, Ledson, Millar; Browne; Osmajic, Evans
Leeds United
Daniel Farke will also look to alter his setup for the Preston North End visit. Stuart Dallas, Jamie Shackleton and Sam Bryam are the sure absentees for this trip. But there might be some changes to the lineup from the win over Ipswich.
Farke should feel no need to change his setup, with Daniel James’s position on the right wing the only potential spot he can consider altering. Wilfried Gnonto remains available to replace the Welshman. But the former Manchester United winger will stay there.
Hence, the likelihood of the same starting eleven looms large. Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon are earmarked to continue their partnership in the heart of the Leeds defence. Archie Gray should also continue at right-back, and while Djed Spence remains the favourite for the left-back slot, he could have competition from Junior Firpo for his place.
Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara will keep their places in central midfield, while Joel Piroe will continue in that No.10 role. With James likely to stay put on the right side of the attack, Crysencio Summerville will operate on the left, and Georginio Rutter will play the leading role up front for Farke’s side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Struijk, Spence; Ampadu, Kamara; James, Piroe, Summerville; Rutter
Key Stats
- Preston North End have seen under 2.5 goals in their last three matches against Leeds United in all competitions.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Preston’s last 3 games in the Championship.
- Preston North End have lost five of their last seven games in the Championship.
- Leeds United are undefeated in nine of their last ten matches in the Championship.
- Leeds United are seven points away from the second spot and the final place for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Georginio Rutter
The German has been a consistent figure for Daniel Farke and Leeds, with the manager able to unlock his potential and show why the club paid big buck when they were in the top flight. While leading the line for the Whites, Rutter has yet to be proficient in scoring goals, and that is his only criticism.
However, he has nine assists to his name, which shows the kind of role Farke wants him to essay, which involves bringing the wide players more into the game. The manager will hope he can find his scoring boots soon, as the German will need many goals to help Leeds jump back into the top flight.
Prediction
Preston North End 0-3 Leeds United
Preston North End have a decent enough squad but do not need more momentum to dream about getting a positive result against a rampant Leeds United side. So far, they have looked like mid-table outfits and are not in danger of going down. But nobody expects them to improve on their position for the time being.
Consecutive losses may have lowered their confidence. But Leeds came in here at the wrong time for Ryan Lowe. Daniel Farke’s men are on a roll and will continue to crush opponents coming their way. Preston could face a heavy defeat, and Leeds will continue their quest to close down Ipswich in second.