Match Preview: Derby v Leeds. We’re champions already - so we can enjoy this whatever happens.

Match: Derby County v Leeds United

Date: 19th July 2020

Time: 14.00 BST, 09.00 ET, 07.00 PST

Venue: Pride Park, Derby. England.

It’s easy to forget, but champions Leeds United (nice to say that) have a game tomorrow. A trip to Pride Park to face Derby County, the main topic of conversation is whether we will be given a guard of honour.

Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Anyone care what team Derby put out? No? Me neither. They play 4-2-3-1 and after today they can no longer make the play-offs. Manager Phillip Cocu has given a chance to young players like Louie Sibley and Jason Knight since Lockdown and I think he could play a few more youngsters to prepare for next season now that the game has no real consequence. I wouldn’t be shocked if Wayne Rooney does not start.

Leeds should be back to their more familiar 4-1-4-1, it would be foolish to expect changes from Marcelo Bielsa - but this is the situation where I would like to see a couple of players getting some minutes as a reward for their hard work.

Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport/Getty Images

In particular, following his performance against Barnsley FC, I could see Pascal Struijk getting a start in the “Kalvin Phillips role”. The Netherlands u17 international, who was born in Belgium did well when he came on, and it allows Leeds to keep Ben White in at centre-back.

The likes of Jamie Shackleton and Oliver Casey could see minutes. Following the injury to one-time Portugal international Helder Costa, I would like to see Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo (full name because it is a great name) get a start but I don’t expect it to happen. Also, I’d like to see Mateusz Bogusz and Ryan Edmondson if they are fit.

No bad injuries is the main hope for these last two games, but good performances would be nice.

Also, if we could not have Kiko Casilla anywhere near the squad that would be nice. In fact, I think former Poland youth international Kamil Miazek is probably leaving in the summer - give him a game if you want.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Derby (4-2-3-1): Roos; Lowe, Davies, Clarke, Forsyth; Bird, Shinnie; Knight, Sibley, Lawrence; Martin.

Leeds (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas; Struijk; Harrison, Klich, Roberts, Alioski; Bamford.

Leeds seem to do better when I am more pessimistic, so screw it - 1-0 to Blackburn, from an xG of 0.2, Leeds will have an xG of 2.5.

Worked last time - Leeds seem to do better when I am pessimistic, so screw it - 1-0 to Stoke.

Can’t change it now - 1-0 to Swansea.

Ain’t broke don’t fix it - 1-0 to the Tykes.

Meh, 1-1, we’re up now so I can stop saying we’ll lose 1-0.

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