This match couldn't come at a better time for Gary McAllister’s club as you can deny all you like but Leeds is grossly under-performing and they need to start winning fast. With bottom-of-the-table dweller Crewe Alexandra. Steve Holland's Railwaymen are suffering through a dismal start of the season with particular problems on the road.
Recent Form
Crewe Alexandra - combined (1 W, 0 D, 3 L)(5 GS, 9 GA)
Aug 9 Crewe 1 - 2 Brighton
Aug 16 Carlisle 4 - 2 Crewe
Aug 23 Crewe 2 - 1 Walsall
Aug 30 Hereford 2 - 0 Crewe
Crewe Alexandra - away ( 0 W, 0 D, 2 L)( 2 GS, 6 GA)
Aug 16 Carlisle 4 - 2 Crewe
Aug 30 Hereford 2 - 0 Crewe
Leeds - combined (1 W, 2 D, 1 L)(5 GS, 6 GA)
Aug 9 Scunthorpe 1 - 2 Leeds
Aug 16 Leeds 0 - 2 Oldham
Aug 23 Yeovil 1 - 1 Leeds
Aug 30 Leeds 2 - 2 Bristol Rovers
Leeds - home (0 W, 1 D, 1 L)(2 GS, 2 GA)
Aug 16 Leeds 0 - 2 Oldham
Aug 30 Leeds 2 - 2 Bristol Rovers
I'm sure how to put this but as difficult as Crewe's early campaign has been, Leeds as only been a smidgen better with the most glaring performances at Elland Road. While I haven't pulled any punches in the past, Elland Road is one of the most difficult grounds to play in the world and it should be a fortress where opposition hopes perish. Sadly this year, it hasn't and its time for Gary McAllister to be "not-so" pleasant for those not willing to fight for every blade of grass and show them the door.
Gary McAllister has addressed these issues publicly and primarily needs to push the pace and work-rate way up along with drawing a line in the sand with the back-line as mental errors cannot be tolerated. Enoch Showunmi is likely out with an injury suffered in the JPT match against Bradford City but Alan Sheehan played mid-week in reserve match against Doncaster and is expected back. Tactically, "the book" is out on Leeds. Pack the midfield, slow the play and the Leeds midfield will play to your tempo. With this in mind and in conjunction with Gary McAllister comments, it's time to put out the following attacking 4-3-3 formation and run the opposition into the ground.
Casper Ankergren
Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques, Paul Telfer and Alan Sheehan
Robert Snodgrass, Fabian Delph and Andy Robinson
Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio and Jonny Howson
I will be posting a full review after the match concludes. Until then, We’re Marching On Together.