United are back in action this weekend after missing out on the Championship schedule during the week due to Birmingham's participation in the Europa League. It's Portsmouth who make the long trip to Elland Road as they look to record their first away win of the season. The Whites have not beaten the seaside club in 21 years in the league but will want to end that miserable run as they look to make it 4 games unbeaten in the league. It was an action packed fixture last season at Elland Road when Portsmouth's best striker on the day, Andy O'Brien, denied Leeds all three points by scoring two own goals in a game that ended 3-3.
Team News:
Luciano Becchio is likely to have to wait a little while longer for his first league start of the season after Andy Keogh and Ross McCormack both scored last time out against Brighton. McCormack is now the top scorer in the Championship with 8 goals.
Ross McCormack scoring one of his 8 league goals so far this season.
Alex Bruce is the only fresh injury concern for manager Simon Grayson as he contemplates whether to make any changes to his leaky defence, United have conceded 3 in each of their last two games and are yet to keep a single clean sheet this campaign.
The travelling party will be without Luke Varney and Dave Kitson, the former Reading man is out with a rib injury whilst Varney serves the last of a three game ban after he was sent off in the clash with Hull City. Aaron Mokoena may return for Portsmouth, however he will be assessed before the game after missing the midweek defeat to Peterborough.
One To Watch:
Erik Huseklepp joined Portsmouth in the summer for a fee of around £1.5 million from Bari and the 27 year old earned the praise of his manager when he scored his first goal for the club in last weeks 1-0 success over Blackpool. "No-One saves shots like that one. They could have had a row of goalkeepers on the line and it would have made no difference" Said Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill. The Norway International who has been linked with a host of clubs in the past including Celtic and Chelsea has 24 caps to his name and 6 international goals. Huseklepp, who can play up front or in midfield will be looking to add to his Portsmouth goal tally on Saturday afternoon and if United want to keep their first clean sheet of the season they will have to keep him in check.
New Portsmouth star Erik Huseklepp.
My Prediction:
After the team have had over a week to rest since their last outing at Brighton, I fancy us to make it 4 unbeaten in the league and I think we will win this one fairly comfortably, our attacking prowess will be too much for the visitors and I think we will come out 3-1 winners.
Last six meetings:
22nd January 2011 - Portsmouth 2-2 Leeds United
28th December 2010 - Leeds United 3-3 Portsmouth
28th August 2007 - Portsmouth 3-0 Leeds United (League Cup)
26th October 2004 - Portsmouth 2-1 Leeds United (League Cup)
25th April 2004 - Leeds United 1-2 Portsmouth
8th November 2003 - Portsmouth 6-1 Leeds United
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