Peterborough United will be aiming to catch an out-of-form Leeds United off guard when they face off in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Leeds United will aim to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they travel to London Road to face Peterborough United on Sunday night.
Daniel Farke’s men have blown hot and cold this season, more often than not shooting themselves in the foot on several occasions. The 3-0 win over Birmingham City snapped the Peacocks’ two-game losing streak, and they will now hope to build momentum in English football’s most prestigious knockout competition.
Peterborough are unbeaten in their last nine games across all competitions and come into the game having gotten the better of Derby County at the weekend. A win over Leeds will certainly give the Posh confidence to push on and close down Portsmouth in their bid to secure promotion to the EFL Championship.
This is the first meeting between both these sides in the competition since the third-round encounter in 1986 that saw the Posh come out on top. Leeds have the superior squad and will go into the game as favourites. But the magic of the FA Cup dictates that reputation goes out of the window in one-off ties.
It promises to be a hard-fought tie between two teams vying for promotion from their current leagues. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Peterborough United
Darren Ferguson’s side are in good form at the moment and have a potent frontline that can cause Leeds some trouble on the night. The Peterborough United boss is well aware that his side go into the game as underdogs but would be feeling optimistic given Leeds United’s inconsistency this season.
Peterborough are expected to field a strong side and will not want to surrender their momentum. The home side are expected to field an unchanged side from the one that defeated Derby County last time around.
Fynn Talley should start in goal behind the backline of Peter Kioso, Josh Knight, Ronnie Edwards and Harrison Burrows. Hector Kyprianou and Archie Finn Collins should form the double pivot, giving the trio of Kwame Poku, Joel Randall, and Ephron Mason-Clark the freedom to push forward.
Ricky-Jade Jones scored the dramatic stoppage-time winner at Pride Park and will hope to build upon it against Peterborough. He should start up front and will be the home side’s focal point in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Talley; Kioso, Knight, Edwards, Burrows; Kyprianou, Collins; Poku, Randall, Mason-Clark; Jones
Leeds United
Leeds United smashed Birmingham City 3-0 at the weekend and will now hope to push on. Daniel Farke and Co. are eyeing a top-two finish that can secure promotion to the Premier League. But a good run in the FA Cup will also help build morale and momentum.
The one positive from what was a dreadful 2022/23 season for Leeds was that they made it past the third round for the first time in six attempts. They will hope to enjoy similar success this season too and push on.
Fartke, however, has a string of injuries to contend with. Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton and Stuart Dallas will all miss out thanks to injuries. Illan Meslier is still suspended and Farke is also expected to make a few changes to his playing XI.
Farke is likely to retain the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kristoffer Klaesson getting the nod ahead of Karl Darlow in goal. Archie Gray should continue at right-back. Joe Rodon and Liam Cooper are expected to occupy the central roles in the backline, while Junior Firpo should get the nod over Sam Byram at left-back.
Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara should also retain their spots as the double pivot, holding the fort for Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe and Crysencio Summerville to get the ball forward. Georginio Rutter should be behind Patrick Bamford in the pecking order for the night.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Klaesson; Gray, Rodon, Cooper, Firpo; Ampadu, Kamara; Summerville, Piroe, Gnonto; Bamford
Key Stats
- This is the first FA Cup clash between Peterborough United and Leeds United since 1986. The former won 1-0 on that night.
- Leeds United have not tasted defeat in their last five games against Peterborough United in all competitions.
- Peterborough United have beaten teams from higher divisions just twice in their last 14 such meetings in the FA Cup.
- Leeds United have progressed beyond the third round of the FA Cup just once in their last six seasons.
Player to Watch
Joel Randall
The Peterborough United star has been in excellent form in the FA Cup, scoring one goal and assisting three more in four games this season. He will don the number 10 role at the weekend and will hope to add to his tally against an unconvincing Leeds backline.
A solid passer and finisher, he is part of a potent Peterborough attack that has scored goals for fun this season. As long as he finds his groove, the home side have every reason to believe they can pull off an upset
Prediction
Peterborough United 2-2 Leeds United
Both Peterborough United and Leeds United are better going forward, and it should reflect in the scoreline on the night. It is unlikely to be a dour affair with goals expected at both ends. The Hard Tackle believe the game will end in a tie, forcing a replay.
