Leeds United vs. Ipswich Town preview: Table-topping Leeds take on the Tractor Boys
Fresh from their midweek victory over Premiership Burnley, Thomas Christiansen’s table-toppers take on Ipswich Town back home at Elland Road and in front of a sell-out crowd.
Equal on points, Leeds United hold only a slender advantage of goal difference alone over their 2nd and 3rd placed rivals Wolves and Cardiff. Ipswich Town currently sit 5th, just two points behind but with a game in hand.
These are happy times for Mick McCarthy. His team at the moment remain in playoff contention. However, a loss could see his team drop out of the top six early on, and few expect them to finish there in May.
Thomas Christiansen’s troops also need the win to literally keep the Wolves from the door.
This encounter is shaping up to be another enthralling battle of brawn over beauty. Never classed in the beauty bracket, Mick McCarthy’s men stood up to a physical Millwall side and came away from the Den with a 4–3 victory. Leeds United’s new boys (including Christiansen) should have learned a lesson there.
Tough Team Talk
I can almost hear McCarthy’s team talk, his broad Yorkshire accent instructing his men to repeat what Millwall did if they want to win. Be first to the ball, defend in numbers, don’t give them any time on the ball and harry them into mistakes.
His team will have been working on set pieces all week. Crosses, corners and free kicks into a box that he will be hoping contains a depleted Leeds defence.
I am hoping, however, that Leeds have been working on the same and will be equal to those threats, and that TC’s team talk will be equally tough in content. Our current squad has proven that they have resilience and fluidity to interchange positions when required.
Ayling or Cooper, Jansson or Shaughnessy, Berardi or Anita: we have shown we have the men, neigh warriors to stand up and be counted when it matters. Leeds have conceded a total of just 3 goals in all 8 League games this season and Elland Road is proving to be a fortress once more.
What we know about Ipswich this season
The Tractor Boys have again been frugal in the transfer market, bringing in just four permanent (including Tom Adeyemi on a free) and three loan signings such as Leeds-linked Iorfa, formerly of Wolves, and Celina from Manchester City.
Ipswich have only failed to score in one of their nine games in all competitions.
Their joint top scorers are David McGoldrick and Martyn Waghorn, both on 4 apiece, and their captain is Luke Chambers.
They have only lost two games in the league this season: home to Fulham 0–2 and away to QPR 2–1.
Injury news
For Leeds: Pennington, Cooper and Jansson are back in contention as the only play still out is Ekuban.
For Ipswich, their defence may see the return of Knudsen, whilst Smith and Webber will miss out.
Head to Head
From 35 meetings, Leeds have won 17, Town 7 and 11 games drawn.
Form
Leeds: W | W | W | W | L
Ipswich: W | W | L | L | W
WHAT
Leeds United vs. Ipswich Town
EFL Championship Fixture
#LEEIPS
WHERE
Elland Road, Leeds
LUTV, BBC Radio Leeds
WHEN
Saturday, 23 September 2017
3:00pm BT
WHO
Leeds United’s predicted starting XI
Weidwald, Berardi, Cooper, Jansson, Ayling, O’Kane, Phillips, Hernandez, Saiz, Alioski, Lasogga
Ipswich Town’s predicted starting XI
Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers, Iorfa, Celina, Adeyemi, Skuse, Ward, Kenlock, McGoldrick, Garner
ODDS
Leeds 4/7
Draw 11/4
Ipswich 19/4
PREDICTION
Ipswich are not in the top five for nothing and show they can score a goal. However, their ugly tactics are predictable and having played another of the division’s ugly teams as recent as last week, Leeds should have enough guile now to get around them. I see a victory for Leeds, 2–1.
