please log in to view this image Leeds United vs Barnsley please log in to view this image Saturday December 21st, 2013 - K.O 15:00 - Elland Road please log in to view this image Barnsley will want to impress new boss Danny Wilson, who returns for his second stint in charge. This fixture finds two teams in very different form, with Leeds showing an air of consistency and a deserved place in the top six, Barnsley have the unenviable job of propping up the table. Elland Road has become a fortress recently, and the Whites have managed to score 2 or more goals in their last 6 home games. When paired with the fact that Barnsley have lost 8 of their last 10 on the road, the form would certainly suggest that McDermott's boys will be taking all three points, however Barnsley have always proved something of a bogey team for Leeds. With 4 wins in the last 6 against Leeds, Barnsley will be hoping this could be the fixture to kick start something of a recovery. Only 1 of those wins was recorded at Elland Road however. The fixture has guaranteed goals in recent years with an average of 4 goals per game in the last 6 meetings. Form Guide (Last 5 League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]W - L - W - X - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Barnsley[/TD] [TD]L - L - W - L - X[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]52[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15[/TD] [TD="align: center"]18[/TD] [TD="align: center"]75[/TD] [TD="align: center"]78[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]52[/TD] [TD="align: center"]18[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19[/TD] [TD="align: center"]78[/TD] [TD="align: center"]75[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]69[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 20/12/13) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds Win[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Draw[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"] 4/5[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 14/5[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 15/4[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Cheeky Bet: Barnsley have been drawing at half time, and losing at full time in 5 of their last 7 fixtures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...16 Matt Smith...6 Rodolph Austin...2 After picking up a knock in training, Danny Pugh is a doubt for this weekend. That could hand a return to the starting line up for Stephen Warnock, who has been looking to reestablish himself since picking up an injury last month. On the other side, Lee Peltier has been keeping Sam Byram out of the starting lineup but after some criticism from fans regarding his attacking contributions, he isn't guaranteed to start here. El Hadji Diouf remains unavailable for selection, while Scott Wooton closes in on a return from injury. The center back was a regular fixture before his injury, and will be itching to prove he is still one of McDermotts first choices in the back line. Barnsley Top Scorers (League) Chris O'Grady...7 Pat McCourt...2 Marcus Pedersen...2 Barnsley are hopeful that top scorer Chris O'Grady makes a return from injury for this fixture. O'Grady has been missing with a calf injury, which has seen Tudgay starting alone up front in a 4-5-1 system. Danny Wilson may have other ideas as to how to deploy his new team as they aim to correct the stat that they have only managed to score 3 in their last 5. Holding midfielder David Fox is still a doubt for Barnsley but Wilson doesn't have any other selection problems. Durham's Prediction: 2-0 Win Barnsley have been struggling of late, and the goals aren't flowing. They may get a lift from Wilson coming in, but if he tries to change too much I don't think it will help with the confidence issues that go with bad form. Leeds have been flying at home, and I think we could finally break a run of poor results against our Yorkshire rivals. I'm going 2-0, Ross to grab one, and set one up for Smith to continue his good run. please log in to view this image I've gone for Warnock and Byram starting and otherwise unchanged from the team that beat Doncaster. McCormack and Smith are showing the signs of creating a good partnership. It's difficult to find much else to say other than "it's working so why change it". I'm going for Byram over Peltier as I still think he is the better player, and certainly going forwards. There's reports that Gboly Ariyibi is pushing for a first team spot, so I wouldn't be so surprised to see him on the bench. I'm going to have to get familiar with spelling that one if he becomes a fixture in our first team! Over to the not606 faithful, let's have some score and team predictions
One of those rare occasions where I expet us to win by 3 or 4-0 and have the game sown up by half time. We are creating too many chances for this to be other than a one-sided fixture. That said, we are Leeds Utd. We never make things easy. So a 1-0 win with camera technology in the 98th minute might be required!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4-0 Leeds win, Mowatt to open the scoring in the 33rd minute, a Matt Smith brace with goals either side of half time assisted by Peltier and Mowatt, and McCormack to put the icing on the cake with a piece of individual brilliance in the 76th minute
I'm hoping for us to have won the game long before the 76th minute and as such McCormack suitably tucked up in cotton wool long before the 76th minute.
Heres our team -----------------------Kenny----------------------- Lees---Zaliukas---- Pearce--- Peltier---Pugh, -----Mowatt---------- Austin---------Murphy---- ----------Smith---------- McCormack
At the start of the season who would have believed that Lee's and Pugh would have been playing well enough to keep Warnock and Byram out of the team. Maybe Byram struggling to get into the starting 11 will keep the premier league teams from sniffing around him in January
