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At Through It All Together, we love to write about Leeds because of our passion for the club we love. This gives all of us the confidence to think we know how our beloved Leeds United are going to play for each game. We all flitter between optimism and pessimism, but we all share the same love for the club and love a good prediction.
Remember: Leeds United at Reading FC, 5:30pm start, TV Listings, Full Preview
Here's how we think this afternoon’s game will go down...
James Mahoney: 3-1 Leeds - I originally felt that the game would be a tight affair and we would scrape a 1-0 win but I think the comments made by Yann Kermorgant and Japp Stam will galvanise the lads and we will systematically take Reading apart.
We will score earlier through a Bartley header from a corner. Reading will nick a goal just before the break, however in the 2nd half the quality we possess throughout this team will shine through and we will dominate the half with Wood scoring two goals and celebrating with shushing celebration to Kermorgant, Stam and everyone in the Madejski Stadium.
Johnny Wakefield: 2-1 Leeds - We can taste promotion, and there’s nothing better than a game against another top-six side to throw us right into the most important April in years. I think Reading play possession, as per usual, and Monk has us bunker and playing conservatively on the road, as usual, but we take advantage on the counter twice in the first half, Wood and Pedraza with the goals. They get one back so we can hate ourselves for the final ten minutes, but we walk out with three points and momentum returned. MOT.
Mike Stehilk: 2-0 Leeds - On paper, this game isn't in our favour. Reading have lost only two at home (Aston Villa in October and QPR in January) and Leeds have lost seven games away from Elland Road. As we've talked about, guys like Pablo Hernandez struggle on the road, so I'd welcome a fresh face at CAM for this game. It's a very important game, as they all are to be at this stage of the season, and a game that would see Reading leapfrog us in the standings should the result go their way. All that being said, I think we'll walk out of the Madejski Stadium with three points. If Chris Woods knock isn't too serious and he does end up playing, he'll score a goal early to set the tempo, and after a good 60 minutes of back and forth, grind-it-out style of football, Kyle Bartley scores off a corner to seal three points for a United victory.
Jack Dudley: 1-1 draw - I think Reading’s boring, possession-only football will frustrate Leeds. We have an easier time of winning the midfield battle against sides that come at us and try to attack. We seem to struggle against tighter, slightly more efficient units, and I think the visit to Berkshire will prove to be just that.
That being said, as long as Bartley and Jansson (if picked) keep Yann Kermogant quiet then I think the Royals could also struggle to score.
We could be looking at a bore-draw, but I'd take a point.
Ben Mallis: 0-0 draw - Reading love to control the football and grind out results, while United have shown a propensity for sitting back and letting opponents dictate terms all season. This has stalemate written all over it. Chris Wood is our best (and possibly only) avenue to three points but all signs point to the big Kiwi being underdone following a jet setting international break. Bank the point and move on.
Sean Ryan: 2-0 Leeds - F**k Reading. They are a possession based team in a league where it doesn't work. While they may be in the play offs, they can't beat the teams around them. Stam is trying to play Dutch football with players who don't have the ability or the know how to do so. Leeds on the other hand now know where they stand. The playoffs are all but secured. The time is now to push for 2nd. We beat Brighton comfortably, we have the best back four in the division, While our away record is not brilliant, Reading are not even close to a test for Leeds. Easy win and we march on.
Anthony Linley: 0-0 draw - I think Jack has already nailed it in his prediction. Monk would take a draw all day long in this one and will definitely go defensively minded. With Wood being a slight doubt at best and our playmaker Hernandez unable to perform on the road, its difficult to see where the goals will come from. Thinking about it Japp Stam would be delighted with a draw.
Nestor Watach: 1-1 draw - A point would be a valuable one, not least by denying Stam’s men all three - and we’re more than capable of getting it. The fact that both sides can be satisfied with a point should set the tone for what could be a cautious affair. It would be a surprise if Reading’s possession-based style created a great deal of chances against Leeds superlative defensive unit, while we also have struggled with creativity away from home in recent weeks. A low scoring draw.
Poll
Who do you think has it right?
This poll is closed
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20%
James: 3-1 Leeds
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20%
Johnny: 2-1 Leeds
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60%
Mike & Sean: 2-0 Leeds
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0%
Jack & Nestor: 1-1 draw
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0%
Ben & Anthony: 0-0 draw
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0%
None of them. See my answer in the comments.
That's how the TIAT team think the game will go today, but we want your predictions too. We want you, the Leeds fanbase, to get involved. All we want is your prediction in the comments section below, we need:
- Score
- Scorers (Chris Wood is a definite or so Yann Kermorgant keeps telling me)
- Brief description of how the game is set to play out.
We will give a shout out on social media to the winning fans whose predictions are correct. Here's to a successful end to a wonderful season. MOT