please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Brighton Saturday 11th March@15:00hrs | Elland Road Brighton face a cold Elland Road reception on Saturday afternoon, with hot lamps and under soil heating working overtime to ensure the fixture goes ahead. By comparison, their South Coast opponents are enjoying tropical conditions (by West Yorkshire standards), currently at 11 degrees. The Seagulls are flying high in the top flight, and with three points separating them from the top six, will be determined to take advantage of a Leeds team, equally desperate to cling on to Premier League survival. Patrick Bamford faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday. The 29yo picked up a knock which kept him sidelined against Fulham and Chelsea, but is said to be making good progress. Gracia will be keen to give Rutter a striking partner, so not to isolate the Frenchman up front. Alternatively, Sonny Perkins or Mateo Joseph may get their first league start of the season. Perkins (and Gyabi) were especially impressive during Monday nights 3-0 win for the U21's over bottom of the table Derby County. Rodrigo (ankle), Dallas (leg), Sinisterra (thigh), Cooper (muscular), and of course Forshaw are all ruled out for the hosts. Archie Gray has been particularly impressive in training, and is expected to receive game time. Pascal Struijk has been training all week, and may also play a part, though the back four of Ayling, Koch, Wober and Firpo look quite settled. Jakub Moder (knee), Enock Mwepu (Cardiac condition) and Adam Lallana (thigh) will all miss the trip to Elland Road, whilst defender Tariq Lamptey faces a late fitness test. Leeds have only beaten Brighton once in twelve attempts (losing nine); a 2-0 home victory in 2017, courtesy of a Chris Wood brace.
First thing that needs stopping on Saturday is all the ' handbags ' nonsense that some of our players keep getting dragged into. Just get on with trying to win the match and leave your chest pushing a macho posturing for the car park after the game. Three main culprits are Adams, McKennie & Gnonto and it seems this is something that's crept back into our game as it certainly wasn't happening under Bielsa. We'll never know for sure if those 2 first half yellows at Everton cost us but they definitely cannot have helped.
Is that still a ' thing ' with Brighton ? Thought homosexuality was practically compulsory everywhere these days.
agreed, there were signs that Jesse’s ‘aggression’ was getting reflected on the pitch… though actually seems to have got worse since he left… time for Javi to get them to rein it in they could practice friendly handshakes during the week
The FA & referees are to blame, with the (post-Bielsa) war on snowflakism, allowing anyone who wants to to chop down our players, with zero consistency. Gnonto, for instance, gets fouled recklessly time after time. He must draw at least 5 fouls a game, but that's only for the really violent fouls that the ref can't ignore. TBF, it's affecting most teams, as 'hard men' are pushing the limits as far as they can. Then again, wear a Leeds shirt & you'd get booked for just about anything anyway.
We don't play act. That disallowed goal v Soton was due to a spectacular dive by their player, though why anyone attacking was hanging on to a defender is beyond me. We're still in the Bielsa era of being honest, though if we act like the other teams would we be happy?
With temps due to be minus 6c tonight this match may be off. The car parks and pavements will freeze solid. Spectator safety is taken into account a lot more than in the 70s when people were not pussys.
I doubt it would make any difference when you look at the nailed on penalties we’ve not been given and haven’t even been reviewed by VAR but yes, we’re in a dog fight and we need to get more streetwise.
Yep been thinking that myself. Snow has now stopped so they have this afternoon to get cleaned up otherwise the game could be in jeopardy.
The biggest thing we don't do regarding 'stretching" the rules is the professional foul on the edge of the opponents box when they are threatening to break on us. We just watch and admire them as they pop up the other end and score. Sometimes you've got to take the yellow card for the team and haul the ****ers down like this.
