Leeds United vs. Reading FC preview: Good result needed in front of a sold out Elland Road crowd
Leeds face Reading at Elland Road in the most important home game so far this season.
In recent seasons, the international break has been an unwelcome distraction, either breaking momentum or causing fatigue for key players. However, due to two defeats in the last two outings which saw Leeds United drop to 5th in the league, the break this time has given the Whites the chance to re-group and re-assess before going into this weekend’s tie against Jaap Stam’s Reading FC.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen stated he used the international break to analyse what went wrong in those recent losses, especially the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday “which hurt a lot.” He has worked on the things he wants to change and expects a good result on Saturday. With United’s home form being strong, this can only mean a victory and three points against a team struggling for goals.
Jaap Stam’s tactics last season at Elland Road led to his team having 77% possession yet only 2 shots on target and ultimately losing the game 2–0. He admits his side have become predictable and he has to change this because teams Reading come up against become difficult to break down.
On Saturday, he will not only be coming up against a side that have conceded just 2 goals in 5 home games but also against a full house of fanatical Whites supporters in desperate need of a win.
I wish I could say “Good luck Jaap,” but even a sarcastic good luck wish escapes me where Stam is concerned. I will not be the only attendee on Saturday who knows of his connections with a certain other club and his comments about the Leeds fans last December and March.
TC has given a vote of confidence to United keeper Felix Wiedwald, meaning he will most likely start Saturday. With Hernandez, Saiz, Roofe, and Lasogga all being rested up, I expect this will be the forward line. I also expect goals.
What we know about Reading this season
Floundering 1 point and 2 places above the relegation zone, they have scored just 10 goals in 10 games. Their top scorer is Liam Kelly with 4. In the league, they have won just 2 games: Their best winning margin was 2–0 away to Birmingham. Their losing margins to date are by just 1 goal in the league. The largest losing margin was 2–0 against Swansea in the League Cup.
They managed to retain most of their squad from last season losing mainly fringe players (Danny Williams excluded) to lower placed teams, but they bolstered the squad with players who were either from or have played in the Premier League such as Vito Mannone (Sunderland) and Leonardo Bacuna (Aston Villa). Pelle Clement comes in from Ajax and former Leeds loanee Modou Barrow comes from Swansea.
Injury news
The Leeds stars who went on international duty have returned unscathed, and Pontus Jansson has recovered from his arm injury meaning, with Cooper’s return from suspension, TC has a full defensive contingent to pick from. Ronaldo Vieira struggled against Sheffield and has not trained (at time of writing) and faces a late fitness test.
For the Royals, the injuries mount. Their main concern is last season’s top scorer Yann Kermorgant who remains sidelined after a hip and groin op. He is joined by Stephen Quinn (knee) and Callum Harriot (hamstring). Joseph Mendes and Jordan Obita are likely to miss the rest of the season both having knee operations.
Form
Leeds: W | L | W | L | L
Reading: L | D | L | L | L
Head to Head
In the last 12 meetings between the two clubs at Elland Road, the Whites have taken the honors 5 times, losing 3 and the remaining 4 drawn.
WHAT
Leeds United vs. Reading FC
EFL Championship Fixture
#LEERDG
WHERE
Elland Road, Leeds
LUTV, BBC Radio Leeds, ESPN3, iFollow, International Listings
WHEN
Saturday, 14 October 2017
3:00pm BT
WHO
Leeds United’s predicted starting XI
Wiedwald, Berardi, Jansson, Cooper, Ayling, O’Kane, Phillips, Hernandez, Saiz, Roofe, Lasogga
Reading’s predicted starting XI
Mannone, McShane, Moore, van De Berg, Gunter, Kelly, Beerens, Edwards, Blackett, McLeary, Aluko
ODDS
Leeds 10/11
Draw 13/5
Reading 14/5
PREDICTION
We return to fortress Elland Road wanting to put things right against a team who are out of form and struggling for goals. I cannot see a Reading win, I cannot see them even scoring. However I can see Lasogga and Hernandez getting their names on the scoresheet for the Whites. 2–0 Leeds.
