:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62386970/864646632.0.jpg)
Match: Leeds United v Bristol City
Date: 24 November 2018
Time: 15.00 BST, 10.00 AM EDT, 12.00 ART
Venue: Elland Road
Television: None.
Streaming: LUTV or iFollow BCTV
Check livesoccertv for additional information.
All-time Record: Leeds v Bristol City: 21W 9D 8L
Previous Results: 21 October 2017 Bristol City 0-3 Leeds; 18 February 2018 Leeds 2-2 Bristol City
Leeds United goalkeepers Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek profiled - looking likely one of them will be in goal for Marcelo Bielsa against Bristol City. #lufc https://t.co/LgLScVryT4
— Joe Urquhart (@JoeUrquhartYEP) November 23, 2018
The biggest talking point going into the Bristol City match this weekend will be the absence of any first-team goalkeepers after Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman broke his leg during a U23 match during the international break and Bailey Peacock-Farrell picked up a knock during training.
This means that the team will likely have to rely one of their Academy goalkeepers, either Will Huffer or Kamil Miazek. Miazek has some very limited first team action coming on his previous stints in Poland and with Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, while Huffer has only appeared in U23 matches. However, Huffer is a England U20 international who has stepped up in various youth internationals, including a key performance in relief for the England U17s against Spain.
Besides the goalkeeper injury crisis, Leeds are also facing a huge dilemma on the backline. Pontus Jansson picked up an injury against West Bromwich Albion, while both Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi, fullbacks who have been used as central defender, are both out with longer-term injuries. All of the injuries leave Liam Cooper as the only recognized centre back in the first team squad, although Kalvin Phillips has played as part of a back three on at least a few occasions this season.
Bielsa on his options: "Phillips can play as a centre-back. Aapo Halme is another opportunity. These are the two opportunities." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) November 22, 2018
The absences could mean that Aapo Halme will make his senior debut for Leeds. Halme was brought in to the club last January with a lot of fanfare, but injury delayed his debut for the club until this fall. The 20 year-old has played at a variety of youth levels for Finland, including for the U21, as recently as previously this autumn.
Besides the changes forced by injuries, Leeds should have a relatively similar lineup to the one that has started the prevous games in November. Kemar Roofe up front, along with Pablo Hernandez, Gjanni Alioski, Mateusz Klich, Adam Forshaw, and Stuart Dallas.
Bristol City isn’t having nearly as an exciting season as they did last season, as they were in or around the playoff positions nearly the whole season, until a late slid down the table, after getting to the semi-finals of the League Cup, beating some Premier League teams on the way. This season, Bristol City sit in 13th place with 22 points, 10 spots and eight points behind Leeds, who sit in third place with 30 points.
Can Leeds overcome the injury crisis and get a good win at home before next weekend’s Yorkshire Derby against Sheffield United? Let’s hope that if Leeds do blood some new players, that they will be up for the challenge.