Leeds Utd v Preston North End
Thursday 26th December 2019 17.15 | Elland Road
Leeds welcome the Lilywhites to Elland Road on Boxing Day for an early evening kick off; hoping to get back to wining ways having once again succumbing to the London jynx. This time however, its Preston's who must try and overturn the curse - they have only beaten Leeds once in ten matches.
Having suffered four consecutive losses, Alex Neil's men have picked up seven points from nine as they look to solidify a play off place. Preston will be without Joe Rafferty and Darnell Fisher who are both suspended. Pablo Hernandez has been ruled out of action for a month following the hamstring injury he picked up in the opening minutes at Craven Cottage at the weekend, but are bolstered by the return of Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton.
During Bielsa's pre match press conference, the Argentine told the press that he intends to start with Dallas and Alioski in Midfield. Barry Douglas is suffering with an illness and will not make the bench. On form striker Patrick Bamford, who has netted 6 times in eight games, will be looking to add to his tally to try and stretch the gap between 2nd and 3rd back to double digits.
With the half way point in the season reached this will be the second times the clubs have met. Back in October the clubs played out a 1-1 draw with Eddie Nketiah bagging a late equaliser for Leeds. Since losing 6-4 in September 2010, Leeds have lost none of their last four home league games against Preston, keeping a clean sheet in each match. Leeds have won their last three league matches on Boxing Day, including a 4-1 away win at Preston in 2016. Preston have only lost two of their last 13 away league matches played on Boxing Day, although those defeats have come in the last four such outings.
Leeds Starting XI
Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips; Klich, Alioski, Costa, Harrison, Bamford
Subs: Meslier, Douglas, Struijk, Berardi, Gotts, Stevens, Nketiah
.....whatever anyone thinks. 3-0 up at home with 30 mins to go against an inferior team and to allow them to come back for a draw is not really on, surely? .....is it?
