Leeds United travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City for their second Sunday game in two weekends. It is also the second game in a row in which Simon Grayson has had ties with the opposition, the former Leicester defender will be hoping the outcome is a lot different come 5pm on Sunday evening after he saw one of his other former sides, Blackpool demolish United at Elland Road during the week. It was only the second time in Leeds' history that they have suffered a 5 goal defeat at home and the Whites now haven't won any of their last three and have slipped to tenth in the league. Despite Leeds' slight advantage over Leicester in their 110 meetings, having come out on top on 43 occasions to the Foxes 36, United haven't won away at Leicester since 2002 when goals from Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler were enough to give Leeds all three points. Leeds also haven't won any of the last 8 between the two sides, with their last success coming in a 2-1 win at Elland Road back in 2005.
Team News:
The United defence is never without it's problems but at present it is at a new low. Grayson is without the centre back duo of Darren O'Dea and Tom Lees. O'Dea is still struggling following been taken off last week at Cardiff while Lees serves a one match ban after becoming the fifth different Leeds player to be sent off this season. Leigh Bromby, Alex Bruce and Andy O'Brien are the ones fighting for another chance in the Leeds back four, however, O'Brien is the one likely to get the call after the former Newcastle defender was on the bench in midweek. New loan signing Alex McCarthy will be starting at the expense of Paul Rachubka who won't even make the bench after Simon Grayson told the club website: "Alex McCarthy will play with Alex Cairns on the bench, We're taking Paul Rachubka out of the limelight for a few weeks. After that, it may be that he comes back on the bench or even goes out on loan" said the gaffer.
Leeds United's latest loanee Alex McCarthy.
There are no new injury concerns in any other areas of the pitch for the Whites, however Grayson may decide to shake things up after the goals have started to dry up. Leeds have only scored 1 goal in their last three games and the likes of Luciano Becchio, Lloyd Sam and Mika Vayrynen will be knocking at the managers door asking for their chance to make an improvement.
Steve Howard and Paul Gallacher may keep their places for Leicester as Darius Vassell and Lloyd dyer both struggle with knocks. Howard's impressive performance during the week against Burnley is likely to mean that former Whites striker Jermaine Beckford has to make do with a place on the bench.
One To Watch:
Leicester have one of the strongest squads in the Championship and there are many players to choose from but David Nugent, who has been the thorn in Leeds' side before is the man which I think United to keep an eye on. Nugent seems to have a knack of scoring against Leeds and the former Bury, Preston, Burnley and Portsmouth hit man will be hoping to fire Leicester to back to back victories for the first time this season. Nugent made his move from League Two (at the time) Bury to Preston and it was there where he made his name, after scoring 15 goals in the 2006-7 season, Nugent won his one and only (to date) England cap, coming on a second half substitute in a 3-0 win against Andorra, in which he scored the third goal. The England call up helped Nugent on the way to a £6 million move to Portsmouth during the summer of 2007, although originally it didn't work out for Nugent at the seaside club, he returned from a loan spell in the Premiership with Burnley to fire 14 goals for Portsmouth and was the clubs top scorer during the 2010-11 season. This caught the eye of Sven Goran-Errikson who signed Nugent for the Foxes on a free transfer after his contract at Portsmouth ran out. Other players to look out for include Richie Wellens and Matt King and also former Leeds players Kasper Schmeichel and Jermaine Beckford who's goals helped Leeds return to the Championship in 2010.
David Nugent Scoring for England.
My Prediction:
I don't think there are many Leeds fans out there who expect us to go to Leicester and win after what happened during the week. I just can't see anything other than a win for the hosts in this one with Kasper Schmeichel having the game of his life, I'm Sure Beckford will do the same if he features. Our recent form put together with our bad recent record against the Foxes and I think it will be 2-0 to Leicester.
Last Six Meetings:
26th December 2010: Leicester City 2-2 Leeds United
20th October 2010: Leeds United 1-2 Leicester City
25th August 2010: Leeds United 1-2 Leicester City
13th April 2009: Leicester City 1-0 Leeds United
26th December 2008: Leeds United 1-1 Leicester City
14th March 2007: Leicester City 1-1 Leeds United
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