Leeds United at Burnley FC: Time, TV, lineups, preview, will Evans hear alarm bells?

The Clarets suffered a setback midweek drawing at home to Cardiff. The Turf Moor outfit were looking comfortable at the top of the Sky Bet Championship until that game. Although they didn't lose, they allowed Middlesbrough to close the gap at the top of the table to 1 point, which illustrates how difficult this league can be. Burnley will be hoping to bounce back against Leeds, needing all 3 points to keep in the lead for the Championship title. Leeds meanwhile... well... never mind.

Ginger Mourinho

Burnley Manager Sean Dyche, dubbed the Ginger Mourinho, is a sought-after commodity in the managerial market after taking the unfashionable Lancashire side into the Premier League in 2014. Despite losing Danny Ings and Keiran Tripier to Liverpool and Tottenham respectively, the no-nonsense, former Chesterfield defender has excelled managing in the Championship, steering his side to their current lofty position. He has again built a squad capable of promotion with acquisitions Andre Gray and the experienced Joey Barton, amongst others.

Warning for Steve

Alarm bells must be ringing for Leeds United head coach Steve Evans as he prepares to take his unpredictable defence and 19-year-old goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell to a table-topping side that have amassed 63 goals so far this season. The fact that Burnley still needs a convincing victory to keep breathing space between themselves and their title rivals will not help Evans' indigestion either. Bolton are at long odds of 4/1 not to score compared with Leeds at 10/11.

Giuseppe Bellusci was again at the centre of a defensive calamity that handed Leeds's latest opposition a late penalty in their Tuesday draw against Queens Park Rangers. If Bellusci starts again this Saturday, we will surely have to wonder who is actually picking the team, or if Evans is really the man for the job.

Form

Burnley have won only 2 of their last 5 games, drawing the last 3 consecutively. Scoring 9 goals, they have conceded 6.

Still struggling in front of goal, Leeds ended their 2 game losing streak with a draw against QPR on Tuesday. From their last 5 they have won 2 lost 2 and drawn 1. They have scored 6 but conceded 8.

Head-To-Head Results

Out of 28 games at Burnley, the Clarets have won 11 encounters, Leeds have won 12, 5 have been drawn.

Leeds player to watch

Gaetano Berardi. The tough-tackling error-free defender is back. Despite his head injury suffered against Rotherham, he played the full 90 minutes against QPR. Literally spilling blood for Leeds this season, he has earned the respect of the Whites faithful. United will need him at his professional best for this game.

Burnley player to watch

Signed from Brentford for a club-record £6 million in the summer, 24-year-old Andre Gray is doing a fine job filling the boots vacated by Danny Ings. Gray has netted 21 times so far this season.

WHAT

Burnley FC v Leeds United

Football League Championship

WHERE

Turf Moor, Burnley

Sky Sports 1, BeIN Sports, BBC Radio Leeds, LUTV

WHEN

Saturday, April 9, 2016

4:30a PT / 7:30a ET / 12:30p BT

WHO

Leeds United's probable lineup

Silvestri, Taylor, Bamba, Cooper, Berardi, Diagouraga, Bridcutt, Cook, Dallas, Mowatt, Wood

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Antenucci, Wootton, Adeyemi, Murphy, Coyle, Phillips, Erwin

Burnley FC's probable lineup

Heaton, Lowton, Mee, Keene, Ward, Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray

Subs: Robinson, Barnes, Marney, Taylor, Darikwa, Kightly, Tarkowski

ODDS

Leeds 11/2

Draw 3/1

Burnley 8/15

PREDICTION

My rose tinted glasses can see the Whites hanging on for a draw. 1-1.