Leeds United v Swansea City Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Elland Road Kick off - 3pm Date - 31 August 2019 Well, who’d have forecast this when the season kicked off four weeks ago that the Swans would be travelling to West Yorkshire for a top of the table clash with Leeds - with both the teams unbeaten, occupying first and second spots, separated only on goal difference. The Swans warmed up for Saturday’s match by thumping Cambridge 6-0 in the second round of the League Cup to earn an away tie at Vicarage Road in the third round. That victory following a comprehensive 3-0 dismantling of Birmingham last Sunday. Kyle Naughton, Bersant Celina and Borja found the target inside 12 second-half minutes of a dominant display. Birmingham had no answer to Cooper's men, who are enjoying the club's best start to a league campaign in 41 years. Swansea have been formidable opponents on their own ground since losing to Aston Villa on 26 December 2018. The only visiting team to win at the Liberty since then are Manchester City, and they needed a couple of contentious refereeing decisions to secure victory in the FA Cup in March. Swansea had won their three home games prior to Birmingham's visit, despite falling behind in each of them. Cooper had called for a faster start here and his team responded, controlling the first half and asking questions of Pep Clotet's rearguard even if they lacked quality in the final third. Yan Dhanda came closest to opening the scoring but Kristian Pedersen headed his shot off the line. The Swansea midfielder, making only the second EFL start of his career, also saw an effort blocked by Harlee Dean, while Andre Ayew volleyed over and had a header saved. Birmingham's threat was minimal throughout, although Fran Villalba did drag one 20-yard effort wide. Nevertheless, former Swansea assistant manager Clotet must have been fairly content with the game goalless at the break. His mood might have changed early in the second period but for a sharp save from Lee Camp, who thrust out an arm to push Borja's goalbound header to safety. Swansea kept probing, however, and the breakthrough they deserved eventually came just after the hour. Borja wanted a penalty as he rose to meet Connor Roberts' cross. His appeals were waved away, but half-time substitute Naughton seized possession on the edge of the area and steered a shot inside Camp's near post. The second goal followed swiftly, with Mike van der Hoorn claiming an assist after outmuscling Villalba in midfield. The big central defender picked out Celina in space on the left and he finished emphatically, powering a shot beyond Camp. Swansea were in total control, and they made it 3-0 when birthday boy Borja swept home from the penalty spot after Marc Roberts tripped Dhanda. The day before the Swans were overcoming Brum, Leeds has travelled to the Britannia Stadium to face a struggling Stoke City. Stoke competed well in the first half but went behind three minutes before the break when right-back Stuart Dallas latched on to a through ball from former Swan Pablo Hernandez to finish off a fine team move. The visitors doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart when Patrick Bamford squared to give left-back Ezgjan Alioski a tap-in from close range, and striker Bamford lashed in a third after Federici palmed an Alioski shot into his path. Leeds lost in the play-off semi-finals last season having missed out on automatic promotion, but Marcelo Bielsa's men look set to challenge at the top of the table again - after scoring 10 goals and conceding just twice in five games. However, former Argentina boss Bielsa says it is "very difficult to predict what will happen" over the course of the Championship season. "We are playing with the same ideas as last year, but we are losing the ball less and suffering less from counter-attacks," he added. "One of the most important things, one of the keys, is that we do not have a lot of injuries and, of course, the positive results affect the ongoing performance of the team. "We have a long season to play and we will see if the squad we have created is enough, or not enough." After seeing Bamford net his fourth goal of the season Stoke eventually had their first effort on target in the 76th minute through Tom Ince, who saw his low shot from range saved by visiting keeper Kiko Casilla. The margin of victory could have been even greater, but Federici kept the score down in the latter stages by keeping out efforts from Helder Costa and Adam Forshaw. The Swans have played Leeds on 38 occasions previously, winning 11, losing 20 and drawing 7. In fact, analysis of the Swans’ record at Elland Road makes for pretty grim reading - they have only won once there and that was on 3 September 1949, 70 years ago. This match is not the first time that the clubs have met in a top of the table clash - back in December 2007 they played each other at the Liberty in League One which saw the Swans run out 3-2 winners despite having Ferrie Bodde sent off in the first half: Turning to Saturday, I’ve a feeling in my water that the Swans are about to burst the Leeds’ bubble and end the 70 year wait for victory at Elland Road. I’m going 1-3 to the Swans. Safe journey to the Jack Army
1 - 3 Away side.....Leeds are a good side but i think we have the measure and the fire power to come away with the 3 points and go top....
Tricky one as I’d have said if we play to our best we’ll win comfortably but that’s a call without having seen Swansea play this season and I’m being told Swansea are playing very well. I don’t like predicting scores so as long as both sides play well I’m more looking forward to a decent game
Watched the second half on Sunday, you guys are playing great football with former England U17s manager encouraging a young talented squad, fair play. Ironically, I think that's why we'll win on Saturday - Leeds are better suited to playing sides who go all out to win, so hopefully we will catch you out. Either way, as Matthew says, it's just one game. But it would be nice to be top of the pile going into the break, 2-0 Leeds.
Going to be a tough one, Leeds are a decent side, but so are we. If we can play as we did against Birmingham then I think we can get a result. Problem might be is the intimidation from the home fans and for that I’m going for a hard fought draw 1-1 which I would snap your hands off now for.
I would love to come away with a point. I have doubts that we can keep a clean sheet and can see Leeds scoring a couple. The question is can we score two ( or more). If we play like we did against Brum and Borja has his eye in then we can get a point (or more). I am sorry but I am thinking a Leeds 2-1 win but I will be one happy chappy if we share the spoils.
Firstly, massive respect to (your) Jack Clarke. Overcoming cancer and now back fighting for a first team place. Amazing courage. Back to the game. You have scored 18 in your last 5 games, so I'm going for a 0-0.
Not sure that we go all out to win. We will play patient possession football by playing out from the back. We have been slow starters in many games this season but liven up in the second half. Swansea are more than capable of winning this game, as are Leeds. Personally, I think all results are equally possible. The stand-out players are Pablo Hernandez and Andre Ayew. Perhaps whoever turns up the most will dictate the result. 1-1 Our first half stats in league games this season: F 2 A 2 Our second half stats in league games this season: F 9 A 2
I am going for a 1-2 win for us, confidence will be high for this game, so may the best team win.............
More Most goals in English football this season... Swansea: 20 Leeds: 15 Sunderland: 15 Luton: 14 Plymouth: 13 Ipswich: 12 Wycombe: 11 Man City: 10
