Leeds United will be keen to get their promotion hopes high when they take on Cardiff City on Saturday night.
Leeds United ended their run of two defeats in a row with a thumping win over Birmingham City last weekend but have much work to do ahead of their trip to face Cardiff City.
Daniel Farke’s men are currently four points off Southampton and seven points behind Ipswich Town in the third and second positions, respectively. While it is difficult to see Leicester City blow their lead at the top of the table, a win on Saturday will see Leeds remain in contention for the second automatic promotion spot.
Cardiff City, on the other hand, are in ninth spot and have a real shot at making the playoffs. With less than half of the season still to play, the Welsh side will be keen to put a strong set of results together.
However, the choice to rotate the squad for the FA Cup saw them crash out against Sheffield Wednesday. Leeds are open to being attacked away from home, and Erol Bulut will have a fighting chance of securing all three points on the night.
On paper, Leeds are comfortably the better team. But from what we have seen of them this season, anything is possible when Daniel Farke’s men take to the field. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Cardiff City
Erol Bulut saw his rotated XI succumb to a loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup and is now expected to revert to his first-choice players against Leeds United.
However, the trio of Aaron Ramsey, Callum O’Dowda and Karlan Grant are all unavailable due to injury and will miss out. The home side is expected to form up in a 4-3-3 formation and will hope to stun Leeds United, whose form away from home is suspect.
Jak Alnwick should start in goal and will be protected by the backline of Perry Ng, Dimitrios Goutas, Mark McGuinness, and Jamilu Collins. Emmanouil Siopis should hold down the fort in the middle of the park, with Ryan Wintle and Joe Ralls providing support. Kion Etete should lead the attack, with Rubin Colwill and Yakou Meite providing the width.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins; Wintle, Siopis, Ralls; Meite, Etete, Colwill
Leeds United
Daniel Farke’s side have been grossly inconsistent this season and should be higher up the table challenging Leicester City for the title. However, results make the difference and Leeds’s propensity to shoot themselves in the foot has so far proven costly.
The Leeds United boss has several decisions to make this week following Djed Spence’s exit and Joel Piroe’s fall-off in form. Injuries could see Farke shuffle his players, moving them around the park.
Kristoffer Klaesson has kept a clean sheet in two of his three appearances but should make way for Ilian Meslier who is not back from suspension. Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas are both out injured, while Liam Cooper is struggling with groin issues. But Farke has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.
Leeds are likely to retain their 4-2-3-1 formation and will hope to capitalise on the 3-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup. Illan Mesler should start in goal behind the back four of Jamie Shackleton, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo.
Archie Gray and Glen Kamara should also retain their spots as the double pivot, holding the fort for Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville to get the ball forward on the wings. Georginio Rutter should keep his place ahead of the out-of-form Joel Piroe, with veteran striker Patrick Bamford leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Shackleton,Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gray, Kamara; James, Rutter, Summerville; Bamford
Key Stats
- Cardiff City are unbeaten in their last six league games against Leeds United.
- Defeat on Saturday will see Leeds United extend their losing streak against Cardiff City to three matches.
- A win on Saturday will see Cardiff City kickstart a year with consecutive wins for the first time since 2017.
- Leeds United have failed to score from open play in their last three away games in the league.
- A loss on Saturday will equal Leeds United’s worst losing run away from home (4 matches).
Player to Watch
Crysencio Summerville
The winger continues to attract attention from Liverpool and is arguably one of Leeds United’s best players. In fact, among the players to have featured for 1000+ minutes in the Championship this season, Summerville is the lone star who has made three or more shots and created three or more opportunities per 90 minutes.
Leeds have struggled to score from open player away from Elland Road of late and will need Summerville to step up. Only four of the 22-year-old’s 18 goal contributions have come away from home, and there is no better time than now for him to change that.
Prediction
Cardiff City 1-1 Leeds United
Cardiff City will be keen to get back to winning ways, while Leeds will want to shed away their tag as poor visitors. It should be an open game with both sides pushing numbers upfield. The Hard Tackle predicts an entertaining draw where both teams share the spoils.
