Leeds host West Ham at the weekend in front of what is set to be one of the biggest crowds Elland Road has seen this season. The reverse fixture was an entertaining 2-2 draw in a game which saw Adam Clayton score a late equaliser for Leeds and the Whites will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run against West Ham to nine games when the Hammers make the journey to West Yorkshire. United have made big improvements in recent weeks and will be hoping to continue the trend when the side who many considered the favourites for the Championship at the start of the season come to town. Despite coming unstuck of late at home, the visitors West Ham have won their last 2 away from home and will be looking to record a hat-trick of wins on the road. Three points for the hammers would also be their eleventh away win of the campaign, which would be their best ever. It's not going to be easy for the Londoners though who have only beaten Leeds twice in the last twenty nine years.
Team News:
Robbie Rogers made a goal scoring comeback for the reserves during the week and could return to the squad for the hosts. Meanwhile Neil Warnock let Lloyd Sam join Notts County during the week stating "I'd rather him go out and play four or five games and have a look at him that way instead of maybe 10 or 15 minutes coming off the bench here" on the club's official site. There are thought to be no new injury worries for Leeds boss Warnock as he looks to record back to back to victories for the first time as manager of Leeds United.
West ham will be without Ricardo Vaz Te, Winston Reid, Julien Faubert, Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop who all continue to struggle with injury. Meanwhile Joey O'Brien is expected to return to Sam Allardyce's squad for the clash with the Whites.
One To Watch:
Kevin Nolan is a midfielder who has really found his goalscoring touch during the last few campaigns. Following on from thirty goals in the last two seasons for Newcastle, Nolan has hit the back of the net on nine occasions so far this year for the Hammers and will be looking to make it to double figures at Elland Road this weekend. Nolan enjoyed eight years under Sam Allardyce at Bolton before the pair were reunited at Upton Park and Allardyce wasted no time in making Nolan skipper after Nolan displayed brilliant leadership qualities in guiding Newcastle United back to the Premiership in 2010. Nolan will be hoping to help get West Ham's automatic promotion bid back on track this weekend and United need to ensure they remain as tight at the back as they have been recently to ensure this doesn't happen.
Kevin Nolan has continued his fine goalscoring form this season.
My Prediction:
West Ham will be looking to bounce back from a string of poor results at home which have seen them fall out of the automatic promotion places at the expense of Reading. United however have been boosted by their first win under Neil Warnock which has given them something to build on so it is a tough one to call with the visitors winning their last two away from home. With Leeds set to have over 30,000 fans roaring them on, it is sure to be a good atmosphere and I think this will spur United on for another much needed three points.
Last Six Meetings:
21st August 2011 - West Ham United 2-2 Leeds United
26 February 2005 - Leeds United 2-1 West Ham United
10 December 2004 - West Ham United 1-1 Leeds United
8 February 2003 - Leeds United 1-0 West Ham United
10 November 2002 - West Ham United 3-4 Leeds United
1 January 2002 - Leeds United 3-0 West Ham United
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