please log in to view this image Leeds United vs Ipswich Town please log in to view this image Tuesday January 28th, 2014 - K.O 19:45 - Elland Road please log in to view this image The Tuesday night game, always a favourite for Leeds fans! It comes at a time where uncertainty once again hovers over the club, with (seemingly) an auction going on for the controlling stake of the club, and West Ham chasing down skipper Ross McCormack. Unfortunately for the Whites this comes at a time where only 1 point has been picked up in the last 5 games, and all of the off the field distractions aren't going to help with ending that woeful run. The last time out Leeds put in a more spirited performance before succumbing to a late goal and 1-0 defeat to league leaders Leicester City. Brian McDermott needs to pick them up and get them fired up for the visit of the Tractor Boys. Ipswich have also been suffering a bad run, though they did pick up all three points in a 2-0 win against Reading. Despite hitting a bit of a bad patch, Ipswich are still only 2 points away from the playoff places, and will be hoping to keep their chances alive with a good result on the road. However, Ipswich have a habit of being involved in low scoring games when they are away from home. 17 of their last 21 Championship away games have had a total of less than 2.5 goals, so the bookies are carrying less than 2.5 goals at 83/100. 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]Ipswich[/TD] [TD]X - X - L - L - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]X - L - L - L - L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1[/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"]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]63[/TD] [TD="align: center"]28[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19[/TD] [TD="align: center"]95[/TD] [TD="align: center"]81[/TD] [TD="align: center"]14[/TD] [TD="align: center"]100[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Ipswich[/TD] [TD="align: center"]63[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]28[/TD] [TD="align: center"]81[/TD] [TD="align: center"]95[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-14[/TD] [TD="align: center"]73[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 27/01/14) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds Win[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Draw[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Ipswich Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]13/10[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 5/2[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 9/4[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...17 Matt Smith...7 Rodolph Austin...2 Matt Smith is unavailable as his suspension continues. Other than that, and the fact El Hadji-Diouf is unlikely to feature amidst rumours he is leaving this week, McDermott has his choice of the squad. New boys Jimmy Kebe and Cameron Stewart are available again, though they have so far failed to have an influence on proceedings. McCormack starting this game will be a signal to the fans that he may be here to stay, though it will speak volumes if the captain and top scorer is missing from the starting lineup. Ipswich Town Top Scorers (League) David McGoldrick...11 Daryl Murphy...8 Tommy Smith...3 Ipswich don't have any injuries or suspensions to worry about coming into this game, and McCarthy could start his leading scorers McGoldrick and Murphy up top, in a team that is expected to be largely unchanged from the one that got the win over playoff rivals Reading. Loanee full back Frazer Richardson could feature, but while McCarthy has not ruled out further additions before Friday's deadline, there are unlikely to be any new faces in the lineup for this game. Durham's Prediction: 1-1 Draw Ipswich will be buoyed by their last result and position, and hopefully McDermott has fired up the players for this one, but I can still see it fizzling out to a draw. I think (hope) that Kebe and Stewart will come alive a little in this one, and if they do we might just nick it, but I'm not going to stick my neck out and say that's what will happen! please log in to view this image I've gone for the same 4-5-1/4-3-3 that I suggested against Leicester. I'm not sure that McDermott will go with this, as I think he is still experimenting with formations since the arrival of Kebe and Stewart. If we're struggling I'd go back to the 3-5-2 though and throw one of Kebe/Stewart upfront with Ross. We need to get out of this rut somehow, and I just hope Ross' head is in the right place going into this one. Over to the not606 faithful, let's have some score and team predictions
Good lineup LiD ... would consider Warnock for Pugh though, rest is solid ... gives us strength in the middle and keeps their full backs on their heels ... now all we need is a goalscorer up front Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I'd go ------------------Kenny---------------- Byram-----Lees------Pearce----Warnock Kebe------Mowatt---Brown-----Stewart -----------RosCo-----Poleon----------- We lacked a ballplayer in the middle against Leicester and that was the only reason that we failed to win that game for me (other than the missed chances), we need to try and get a bit of Brown's tough tackling and ability to read the game into Mowatt I think for him to cement a first team place for the foreseeable future.
Usual team Kenny, Byram, Pearce, Lees, Warnock, Kebe, Brown, Austin, Stewart, McCormack, Diouf. Subs: Cairns, Murphy, Pugh, Peltier, Wootton, Poleon, Mowatt.
Pretty close to what I chose Lees/Zaliukas, Stewart/Mowatt, Diouf/Poleon. I like Brown and Austin together in the middle - gives us strength down the center. Be interesting to see how Diouf does, given a start.
Fair points JLA. Interesting to see how Diouf does because he has the ability to run the game, even more so now giventhat we've moved from hoofball to proper footy
But Diouf is so slow. I've kept my powder dry since praising him under Warnock, but he has shown he no longer has the legs. I really hope I am proven wrong.
