29th December 8:15pm | The Hawthorns
Leeds head down to the Hawthorns on Friday evening knowing that only a win will be good enough to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive. Ipswich are still sitting pretty in second place in the Championship, eight points clear of the Whites, who dropped to fourth behind Southampton, after their gut wrenching defeat at Deepdale. With two wins and three losses from their last six games, Leeds need to find some away form, and fast, if they are to mount a credible challenge for a top two finish.
Leeds drew with the Baggies in the reverse fixture back in August, courtesy of a Luke Ayling 72nd minute equaliser, but generally speaking have have been poor this season against West Midland opposition. They lost to lowly Birmingham and Stoke, and only managed a draw against Coventry a fortnight ago.
Leeds will be without Illan Meslier who starts a three match suspension after whacking Milutin Osmajić, ironically on Boxing day. Karl Darlow is likely to deputise. Jamie Shackleton (glute), Stuart Dallas (leg) and Luke Ayling (leg) remain sidelined. Though Sam Byram is fully available, with fans calling on his return at left back with Djed Spence moving over to right back following the torrid time Archie Gray had against Preston. West Brom have no fresh injury concerns.
It's three years to the day since Leeds battered West Brom back in 2020. On that day Leeds scored four goals in a rampant first-half display at The Hawthorns, but were gifted the opening goal when home midfielder Romaine Sawyers bizarrely passed into his own net from 25 yards. From that point Leeds utterly dominated. Ezgjan Alioski's crisp drive and Jack Harrison's thumping close-range finish left Albion trailing 3-0, while worryingly devoid of ideas and confidence. Rodrigo's deflected shot put Leeds 4-0 ahead before half-time - but there was no let up for the hosts after the break. Another swift attack ended in Brazilian winger Raphinha cutting inside from the right and curling beautifully into the top corner for the fifth.
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