Match Preview: Leeds v Huddersfield. Leeds looking for fifth win in a row in promotion chase.

Match: Leeds United v Huddersfield Town

Date: 7th March 2020

Time: 15.00 GMT, 10.00 ET, 07.00 PST.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Streaming: iFollow, LUTV.

Leeds United welcome Huddersfield Town to Elland Road for a Yorkshire Derby on Saturday. Leeds come in to the game off a run of four wins in a row, with four clean sheets in a row. While 17th place Huddersfield have themselves picked up two wins from their last two games.

The match is previewed in our latest podcast which can be downloaded here, and is embedded below.

Leeds last game was a 4-0 win against Hull City and in truth that flattered the Tigers. Leeds scored four goals from an xG of 1.27 - it is rare for Leeds to be this clinical but hopefully it is something Leeds can continue going forward.

In terms of team news, Marcelo Bielsa’s side will almost certainly be unchanged unless there is a late injury. Jean-Kevin Augustin is still injured so that will probably mean the bench stays the same. Illan Meslier kept a clean sheet following Kiko Casilla’s ban for a racist comment to Jonathan Leko against Charlton Athletic and he will be in goal for the forseeable future - I think there is a good chance we never see Casilla in the Leeds team again.

The only contention among the fanbase is whether Wales forward Tyler Roberts should start following his two goals off the bench last time out, but I would be very surprised if Patrick Bamford did not start.

In terms of the Huddersfield team, Jonathan Hogg is not expected to be back from injury so Lewis O’Brien will probably play in central midfield alongside Chelsea loanee Trevor Chalobah.

There are doubts over the fitness of former Leicester City right-back Danny Simpson, and Arsenal loanee Emile Smith-Rowe (who is very good) but they are expected to be ok for the game. If Smith-Rowe isn’t fit then Alex Pritchard would probably deputise, although Juninho Bacuna would be another option.

They have some good attacking options, particularly in the three behind the striker. In addition to the names above you also have Chris Willock and Karlan Grant, Grant has 16 goals this season and has been very impressive. He will probably play wide with Fraizer Campbell playing as the lone striker.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Leeds (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas; Phillips; Costa, Klich, Hernandez, Harrison; Bamford.

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Lossl; Simpson, Stearman, Schindler, Toffolo; Chalobah, O’Brien; Willock, Smith-Rowe, Grant, Campbell.

Much like the Hull match, this is one Leeds should win. However, the Terriers are much better than that Hull side so I would expect a tougher task for Leeds this time out. I am going to with a 2-0 win for Leeds - Helder Costa and Patrick Bamford (I’ll probably keep saying this until he gets one but - he needs one desperately) with the goals.

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