Match Preview: Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers. Leeds looking for back-to-back home wins.

Match: Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers

Date: 9th November 2019

Time: 15.00 GMT, 11.00 ET, 08.00 PST.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Streaming: iFollow, LUTV (outside the UK).

Leeds United welcome Blackburn Rovers to Elland Road, needing a win to keep pace with a heavily congested promotion chase in the Championship.

Blackburn currently sit in 16th place in the table following a poor run of form. However, they put a stop to that run with an impressive 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

The day before Leeds’ match against Queens Park Rangers, Leeds lost Eddie Nketiah to an abdominal injury which will be assessed week to week, and we do not know when he will be back. Marcelo Bielsa has also announced that Jamie Shackleton is out with a Quadriceps injury. In addition to these, Ezgjan Alioski and Adam Forshaw are still out through injury.

The one good piece of injury news is that Scotland international Barry Douglas is now available - although I would expect him to only claim a place on the bench for tomorrow’s match.

Pablo Hernandez made a return to the pitch off the bench against QPR and so could be in line for a start, given Jack Harrison’s excellent performance in that game that will probably mean Helder Costa drops to the bench.

Tyler Roberts should keep his place following a goalscoring return to the starting line-up, this allows Mateusz Klich to play in a slightly deeper role - which I still think suits him more, despite his excellent chance creation stats so far this season.

Blackburn have been playing with one up front for the past five league matches so that will probably continue. The biggest danger will probably come from Bradley Dack who is likely to be the main playmaker in the number 10 role. They have also brought in Germany international Lewis Holtby on a free transfer, if he can stay fit that could prove to be a very shrewd signing.

Up front Blackburn have Sam Gallagher, Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton and Danny Graham as options. I would expect Gallagher to lead the line with Armstrong playing out wide, where he caused serious issues for Leeds last season at Ewood Park with the other two on the bench.

The midfield has some experience in former Leeds midfielder Bradley Johnson, and former Middlesbrough man Stewart Downing, complimented by impressive 22-year-old midfielder Lewis Travis.

On loan Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Christian Walton is solid. In front of him will probably be a centre-back pairing of Ryan Nyambe and on-loan Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo (whom I rate quite highly).

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Leeds: Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas; Phillips, Klich, Roberts, Hernandez, Harrison; Bamford.

Blackburn: Walton; Bennett, Adarabioyo, Nyambe, Williams; Travis, Johnson; Holtby, Dack, Armstrong; Gallagher.

PREDICTION

Leeds have the stronger side on paper and have been in better form both in terms of performance data and actual results. I have to be relatively confident, despite knowing what Leeds are like. 3-0 win for the Whites.

What do you think the result will be? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @ThruItAllLUFC.