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Spirits are high at Leeds United for the first time in recent memory, as a two-match winning streak has Monk and company a little more comfortable than they were this time last week. But this is par for the course at Elland Road: win, and everyone's at least content... lose, and everyone's calling for your head.
"Elite sporting franchises don’t panic when things are going bad, and more importantly, they don’t believe the hype after a good performance." #MOT https://t.co/L3ITbQcycb
— Through It All #LUFC (@ThruItAllLUFC) September 20, 2016
Wish it wasn't this way... but so be it.
So will we be calling for Monk's head when we go to sleep tonight? Or crowning him the next Don Revie? That depends on if Leeds can repeat (and improve upon) last Tuesday's performance against Blackburn Rovers. The EFL Cup Third Round opponent is a familiar one, as a late Kyle Bartley header gave us a 2-1 win just a week ago. But Blackburn won their first of the season in convincing fashion over the weekend, topping Rotherham 4-2, and they'll be looking for a little revenge tonight.
Our Anthony Linley wrote a full preview of the game you should read before it starts, and we'll have as much coverage as we can of this less-than-glamourous EFL Cup tie here on the site. As information comes in, you can find it here in the gamethread, and then join us in the comments during and after the match as well.
Tuesday's 2-1 win wasn't convincing, and we'll need to be better tonight. Let's hope we keep the #momentum alive. #MOT
WHAT
Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers
EFL Cup Round Three
WHERE
Elland Road, Leeds, England
WHEN
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
11:45am PT / 2:45pm ET / 7:45pm BT
WHO
Leeds United's lineup
Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Bartley, Taylor, Vieira, O'Kane, Phillips, Mowatt, Roofe, Antonsson
Subs: Green, Ayling, Wood, Dallas, Grimes, Hernandez, Denton
Blackburn Rovers' lineup
Raya, Lowe, Feeney, Byrne, Samuelsen, Gallagher, Hendrie, Akpan, Lenihan, Bennett, Wharton
Subs: Steele, Marshall, Emnes, Guthrie, Nyambe, Mahoney, Conway
ODDS
Leeds 11/10
Draw 23/10
Blackburn 13/5
PREDICTIONS
Johnny Wakefield: 2-1 Leeds. We'll have a nervy moment when Blackburn score, but I really think the club has improved in the last week. We'll see that again tonight. On to the Fourth Round!
Anthony Linley: 1-0 Leeds. It will be close, but I'm hoping for another clean sheet. The only goal comes on a Jansson header.
Matt Robinson: 3-0 Leeds. We're on a roll and Blackburn are poor. Worst manager in the league and worst owners in the league (yup, worse than Cellino), they're going down this season and they're going out of the EFL tonight. Chris Wood hat trick to shut us all up (off the bench, obviously).
Ben Mallis: 2-1 Leeds. I think United will win, but this will be a scrap much in the mould of last Tuesday's encounter between the two sides. Expect another late winner from the Whites.
Sean Ryan: 3-0 Leeds. Optimism is flowing through Elland Road after two good wins back to back as well as two clean sheets. Leeds don't need to care about the EFL Cup, but should dispose of a Blackburn side, who even after getting their first win of the season at the weekend, are no better than what we saw last week.
Jack Dudley: 2-0 Leeds. Bit of a catch 22 this one. My sensible side is saying for Monk to rest some of the starting XI. I don't think we're going to win this cup, and a loss in the league is far more debated and analysed than a defeat in a cup we don't need. On the other hand, playing a strong XI and keeping the momentum going can only be a good thing - IF we win. No injuries please, Garry.
Joshua Gilbert: 3-1 Leeds. I think The Whites will not only outclass Blackburn for 90 minutes, but I think that their form will continue in fine fashion, with a lucky goal being scored by Blackburn late in the game. Antonsson will score twice today.
James Mahoney: 4-1 Leeds. After their solid performances over the last week, the Leeds players will carry on the momentum and beat a poor Blackburn side comfortably.
HOW TO FOLLOW
We're hoping to be able to live-tweet this one, but EFL Cup ties are as hard for us to follow as they are for you. If we can, we'll have our usual coverage at @ThruItAllLIVE on Twitter. You can follow our stream of tweets below. #MOT
