Leeds United v. Huddersfield Town: How to watch, lineups, preview, Who let the dogs out?

Once a year, Leeds United very generously let the local neighbours grace our hallowed turf at Elland Road and we teach them how to play football... like a charity event for the local community. Aren’t we so nice? With Leeds in outstanding form just now, I can’t wait to part of a 30,000 strong crowd on Saturday as we once again teach Huddersfield Town a lesson.

Derby Days are always good at Elland Road, whether its Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday or Middlesboro. For some reason though, it’s always the Huddersfield game I look forward to the most. Maybe it’s because there are a few Huddersfield fans in my family, maybe it’s because I associate this game with entertainment, goals and 3 points. Whatever the reason, I am going into this game on Saturday with optimism and excitement. Now I know what you're all thinking: "being this confident is only going to end in disappointment," and maybe it will, but for once I want to relish in the fact that there is a surge of optimism around Elland Road and we are looking up the table for a change.

Going on Steve Evans press conference yesterday, we look to have a full complement tomorrow with Cooper back to full fitness and Chris Wood playing 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors midweek and coming through fine. Evans seems to not be taking anything for granted going into this game though, complementing how Huddersfield have played of late as well as how David Wagner has done there going in there.

Form

Leeds are on fire, that’s all we need to say. Three wins in a row. Huddersfield have lost two out of the last 3 of late with defeats to Derby and Burnley either side of a victory against Reading.

Head-to-Head results

The last 5 games have been good to the Whites, winning 4 out of the 5. Every game we have played against Town in recent memory has been a high scoring affair with score lines like 3-0 back in November of last year and in September 2014 and of course that glorious 5-1 victory in February 2014.

Leeds players to watch

With both strikers on a good run of form just now, the two main players I will be watching closely are once again Doukara and Antenucci. I also expect Chris Wood to play a bigger part in this game so keep an eye on him. Further down the field Bellusci has been outstanding of late for me, and with Huddersfield not afraid of scoring he may have a day ahead of him.

Huddersfield players to watch

It may be an obvious one but Nakhi Wells is going to be a big threat for the Terriers on Saturday. Scoring 15 goals so far this season, he will certainly be a handful once again. Matmour has played well in the last few games I’ve seen him so he’s another player who Leeds should certainly look to contain.

WHAT

Leeds United vs Huddersfield

Football League Championship

WHERE

Elland Road, Leeds

LUTV, BBC Leeds Radio

WHEN

Saturday, March 19, 2016

8:00am PT / 11:00am ET / 3:00pm BT

WHO

Leeds United

Silvestri, Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor, Bridcutt, Murphy, Mowatt, Dallas, Doukara, Antenucci.

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Cooper, Cook, Diagouraga, Carayol, Wood

Huddersfield Town

Steer, Smith, Whitehead, Hudson, Paterson, Husband, Lolley, Wells, Van La Parra, Billing, Lynch.

Subs: Murphy, Davidson, Scannell, Matmour, Cranie, Hews, Bunn

ODDS

Leeds 9/5

Huddersfield 13/8

Draw 21/10

PREDICTION

3-1 to Leeds. With the run of form we are on just now, 30,000 at Elland Road, and every player fit and available? Things are too good to be true for United at the minute. Normally I would predict a spanner in the works with everything going so well, but not this time. Another high scoring, frantic derby day, ending in Leeds United joy.