Crystal Palace will be the next visitors to Elland Road, as a Leeds side under new stewardship will once again be looking to spare their blushes by putting a halt to an abysmal win less run.
It’s amazing what a simple takeover can do for morale, and also for the prices set by bookmakers. The home side can be backed at 2/1 (3.00) at Paddy Power, the draw is priced at 13/5 (3.60) with Pinnacle and the arguably more likely Palace win at 6/4 (2.50) with Coral.
Crystal Palace have won five straight games and haven’t tasted defeat away from home since the opening week of the season. Remaining unbeaten away from home or unbeaten for any stretch in fact is not easy in the Championship, but Palace have been doing it emphatically.
A recent change in manager will do nothing to change their style or results, in fact with a figure like Holloway in charge it personally only reinforces the fact they’re going up – at least for my money, anyway.
Crystal Palace have scored in every single away game so far this season, and given the defensive woes of ourselves at time – add in the absence of Rudolph Austin and Jason Pearce tomorrow – Palace are priced at 11/10 (2.10) to score 2 or more goals at Elland Road tomorrow, and that’s with Coral.
But let’s be positive about this. Despite our current run of form, we have scored 11 goals at home this season and only Birmingham in their smash and grab win have prevented us from finding the back of the net.
Despite our hammering at the hands of Watford, Leeds games are generally seeing a LOT less goals this season and regardless of results we’re a much tighter unit on the whole. We still find ways to concede those silly goals but we’re never far behind any team, as we've seen in the 1-1 and 2-2 draws we've had so far.
That tempts me towards the lovely price of 9/10 (1.90) for there being Over 2.5 goals in this game. This price comes from the bookies Marathon. Despite being league leaders, Palace have conceded in 4 straight away games, allowing the likes of Peterborough to score past them.
I've also picked out a bet based on Palace’s tremendous ability to take teams apart in the second half, and late on in games, coupled with the re occurrence of the second half being the highest scoring in Leeds games.
They've also contributed 12 themselves and scored in every game. With the threat of Wilfred Zaha and the in-form Glen Murray, you wouldn't back against either player getting on the score sheet at Elland Road. Murray is available just 5/4 (2.25) with Coral to score anytime, whilst Leeds top scorer Becchio is available at 9/5 (2.80) with Paddy Power.
A lot of emphasis on goals – and more so from the Palace perspective – and that could easily be undone by the ownership factor, the arrival of Alan Tate and the added influence of Jerome Thomas who I can see linking up very well with Diouf.
However, things aren’t going to change overnight. It’s a desperate situation and I’m glad to see a lot of big efforts are being made by Warnock, the club, the future new owners and even Mr Bates (dare I say) but it will not happen overnight.
Palace are a good side, this is a tough game, no surprise and no shame in it if we do lose. Make no mistake this is a game I’d say we could still easily win come February. By then I’d like to think we’ll be set up to beat anyone, but is tomorrow too soon?
Over 2.5 goals @ 9/10 (1.90) with Marathon
2nd half goals Over 1.5 @ 21/20 (2.05) with William Hill
12 or more corners @ 4/5 (1.80) with Bet365
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