Despite a lackluster start to the 2016/17 campaign, when it was all doom and gloom after the home loss to neighbours Huddersfield Town just three weeks ago, United go into another high profile derby clash with Barnsley, this time with confidence much higher.
Garry Monk’s job was under pressure after only 6 league games with just the victory at Sheffield Wednesday to shout about and the lucky draw at home to Fulham.
Since that 1-0 reversal to Town though the Whites won four on the bounce, including a EFL Cup victory over Blackburn taking them into the last 16 of the competition, when they will face Norwich at home.
In spite of the 1-0 loss to Bristol City in mid-week a lot of positives were taken from the game with most ‘experts’ believing a draw was the least we deserved with a host of chances going begging, not least from Sporting Lisbon loanee forward Hadi Sacko. He will be lethal when he starts scoring!
Barnsley started their campaign quite the opposite to Leeds with five wins in their first seven games. They haven’t won in any of their last three league fixtures and have had problems behind the scenes (thought that was exclusive to us!) with the sacking of assistant boss Tommy Wright after he was implicated into the recent investigations into corruption in football.
Massimo Cellino was also filmed offering undercover reporters, posing as an investment firm, a way to get around third-party ownership rules but Leeds stated that the claims were a "non story".
The owner does have other pressing matters though at the moment!
Back to today; Leeds United will be missing skipper Liam Bridcutt for six to eight weeks after the midfielder was diagnosed with a second metatarsal fracture but influential defender Pontus Jansson is hoping to be fit after being substituted at half-time at Aston Gate when pulling a hamstring.
Jansson has become a cult figure already with the fans with his impressive form and expletive tweets!
Kalvin Phillips has started the last two games in central midfield while Ronaldo Vieira is ready to start again at Elland Road tomorrow after a recent knee injury.
For Barnsley, former Leeds player Aidy White's fitness will be assessed. Cole Kpekawa will continue at left-back if he is unable to play. Saidy Janko and Ryan Williams are still out with thigh and groin injuries.
The Whites have won only one of their last five league games against Barnsley at Elland Road - 1-0 in October 2012, courtesy of a Luciano Becchio penalty.
Barnsley have lost only two of their last 10 league matches against Leeds, although those defeats have come in the last four games.
Leeds haven't won any of their last 11 league games in the month of October (since beating Birmingham City 4-0 on 20th Oct 2013).
Both teams should be more or less unchanged from their midweek games.
Meanwhile, the Leeds careers of Toumani Diagouraga & Luke Murphy appear to be officially over. Both names have been removed from the club’s official matchday programme!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/
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