While Leeds have had a really poor run of late (they’re 22nd in the current form table over the last 10 games), they have actually won two out of their last three, which may well mean they’ve had their really bad patch and are about to hit a rich vein of form.
To be honest, I don’t really check the league table that closely, but that form frankly shocked me, as I’d seen this as an incredibly tough game.
So given that we’re second only to Wolves in that same 10 game table, I think we should really be rating our chances.
Indeed a quick glance this morning at Sky Bet had us as very slight favourites to win.
So while I still think this will be a very tough game, it’s exactly the sort that I think we ought to be winning if we’re to really send a message to the rest of the league.
Team news then and I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you about our injuries.
As for Leeds, midfielder Ronaldo Vieira is available after being suspended.
Striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga remains out but midfielder Eunan O’Kane (hip) is expected to play.
So, prediction time.
Well, leeds have a decent attack, but are vulnerable at the back.
Whereas we’re pretty much the opposite, with me worrying about where the goals will come from, while also having serious doubts about our defence as it currently stands.
Still, we’ve held up very well lately, haven’t we?
In a game that should have a tasty atmosphere, I think that yet again the first goal is going to be all-important.
And if we can get it, it wouldn’t surprise me if we go on to win.
I’d say there are certainly going to be goals and I think the logical prediction is a 1-1, which, while not a bad result, I’m sure I’ll be thinking we needed to win that to really push us on.
My heart thinks we can actually win this 2-1, but I find I expect very little nowadays and anything we get is a bonus.
1-1 it is then.
UTV
I’d be ecstatic if we could win this.
Fingers crossed.
If we win this then we are serious challengers for top 2 imo. But can’t see anything but an easy win for Leeds. It’s one game too many for this team with players missing. 3.0 to Leeds
No surprise in the line-up, as Samba replaces Jedinak;
Johnstone; Hutton, Samba, Chester, Taylor; Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Adomah; Onomah; Davis
i just got in and scoffed tea. got my tins chilled i was just gonna look for our team news so cheer badger
looking forwards to this game. its gonna be a good indicator to our season but without putting a excuse down, we are gonna miss our injured players in this game. its games like this you need them, its gonna be a caldron of abuse for are team. just hope their are enough experience out there to handle it and give the two youngsters up front encouragement
Can’t see us winning tonight I think 3.0 to Leeds they will be all over us
Really?
You do surprise me.
You’re normally so positive too!
For some reason i dont feel confident tonight but praying its proved wrong!.. not great attacking options from the bench either if we find ourselves a goal or two down
Agree bench is as weak as piss. Draw is best we can hope for we never beat anyone in top 8 anyway. 2/3.0 to Leeds. Take the defeat and move on
Sadly, see this as a straightforward defeat.
Taylor is all over Aliovsky. Heh, I like it 🙂
Blatent shove in the back from Chester there and Johnstone looked very unsure.
Leeds are sloppy and keep giving it away.
But look more threatening.
Fucks sake.
Janssen from a corner.
0-1 🙁
Now we need to show some serious mettle
No chance now we’ve lost this samba is crap and injured. They will bang in a couple more
Too easy (though a good header). Samba looks like a supertanker he is that ponderous.
The reality is if Adomah stops scoring we are stuffed. I’ve been on holiday but I have managed to read some of the crap on here about how we only need to beat the teams below us etc etc. Anyway, fingers crossed we can get back in this but as I said, it looks routine enough for Leeds to me.
Samba was behind the goalscorer as soon as the ball was kicked.
Liability to someone quicker and it’s what worries me.
leeds had done fuckall apart from that though, even with their threat.
But it’s goals that win games, simple.
To be honest I could outrun Samba across a short distance!
We started this game with an attitude of ‘weve alredy lost’ mentality.. Bruce made it that way with his team sheet and positioning of the players i.e sit back soak up pressure. Sadly i think the game is now over already
We never win these types of games.
They look like they want it more than us. Were playing sloppy and panic stuff.
It’s Bruce. That’s why I wanted him out last season. You can only play poorly and get away with it so many times.
We don’t look a threat at all. Top 2? Not a hope in hell.
Come on Villa – prove me wrong
it’s the midfield again.
Hourihane is invisible again.
We need to change it up, but I don’t see how we can.
I’d suggest Grealish, but he’s too lightweight.
We were never going to win this game in a million years take the defeat and move on
Onamah is crap
We are in a false position imo top 2 is well out of our league
Fuck’s sake, shut up!
God, you’re getting both barrels if we win this.
Never a solitary good word to say 🙁
Stay cool Badger! Oohah may be negative but he is consistent and unfortunately usually right.
I hope I’m wrong but just knew we’d lose tonight it’s so obvious
Why because I have an opinion different to you! We all know we are going to lose tonight. The twat Bruce hasn’t even got o hare on bench
The bench isn’t stuffed with game changing options, particularly against a side with their tails up, snapping into tackles.
Do we really not have another forward at the club worth at least a place on the bench?
Please make a sub at half time Bruce! Get Greslish on for Hourihane, push adomah closer to Davis.
It is the boys at the back who are losing their individual battles, and the midfield does not have the ball for long enough. Strangely enough there is some hope when the ball is in Leeds box because they are not dropping back in matching numbers. We have outnumbered them twice.
We have failed the test so far, over to Bruce to produce a brilliant tactical change – or not.
Anyone have the shots on target stat?
Apart from that corner, I don’t see they’ve done anything.
Whereas we’ve had shots.
Struggling to see how we can turn it round though.
To think Leeds have lost to all sorts too 🙁
We can still win this. We have been very poor first half but I’m optimistic for second half comeback. Samba has been the difference. Our poor first half performance has made Leeds look better than the are.
We were best before the game started
if all your strikers are injured what striking options are you wanting bruce to put on the bench. talking shit lmao. lets beat the top 8 and lose to the rest and get promoted with 48 points. surely getting promotion you need more like 80 plus points.
leeds just pressed the shit out of villa. if villa can hold on for the little longer. leeds will run out of steam. onamah needs subbing for grealish
We will still have to beat these teams in play Off though
You are absolutely full of shit. If all it takes is to press Villa to beat them then most teams will pretty quickly learn that. Davis wasn’t near the first team last season. Maybe there is someone else that comes somewhere near. We have nothing on the bench. O’Hare would be nice for a bit of attacking intent from midfield.
I haven’t mentioned the top 8. What I have said is that the teams that get automatic promotion almost always score plenty and beat other top 6 teams. We don’t look capable of that and on the few occasions we have had to prove that we can we haven’t. To say that it doesn’t matter because we will beat all the others is so stupid I almost can’t be bothered to respond
By the way 80 points will get you in the playoffs, not promotion. To get promoted you would then need to beat 2 top 6 sides. Does that look likely?
Amen.
You’d think there’s a gulf between the two teams here.
There isn’t.
samba is shit tonight and I’d rather see a kid than someone who is obviously playing through pain, imo.
Onomah and Horihane off.
Grealish and Lansbury on.
Let’s see if anyone thinks that’s wrong.