Leeds Utd v West Bromwich Albion Match Thread

[Cjay]

Saturday 1st March 12:30pm | Elland Road


The Championship spotlight will shine brightly on Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime as Leeds United prepare to host West Bromwich Albion in a crucial encounter for both sides. Leeds, sitting comfortably at the summit with 75 points from 34 games, are on the cusp of Premier League promotion, while West Brom, currently 5th with 51 points, are battling tooth and nail to secure a playoff berth.

Daniel Farke's Leeds United have been nothing short of sensational this season. Their dominance is not just reflected in their league position but also in the underlying metrics. Accumulating an impressive 2.2 points per game, they are on course for a potentially record-breaking 101 points. This team isn't just winning; they are statistically superior.

Boasting the league's best expected goals (xG) rate of 1.81 per game and the stingiest expected goals against (xGA) rate at 0.84, Leeds are controlling games from both ends of the pitch. Their goal difference of +50 already hints at a team destined for great things, chasing Reading's Championship record of +67 from the 2005-06 season.

For West Brom, the challenge is clear. They arrive at Elland Road knowing that points are vital in their playoff pursuit. The Championship playoff race is notoriously tight this season, with a mere six-point gap separating 5th place West Brom from 14th-placed QPR. Just one point separates them from Coventry City in 7th, highlighting the precarious nature of their current position.





After seeing off both Sunderland and Sheffield Utd in recent games, many Whites fans may see this fixture as as a home banker, but Tony Mowbray will have other ideas. Off the field, the 61yo has only just returned to football following bowel cancer. As a fantastic gesture of goodwill, the Elland Road hierarchy had been in touch with the 61yo, offering him free tickets as their guest and an invitation to the boardroom!

Leeds will be without the services of Ethan Ampadu (knee), Patrick Bamford (various) and Max Wober (knee). Concerning pictures showing Dan James with ice packs and strapping around his ankle (following the win at Bramall Lane on Monday evening) have been allayed. The Welsh International described it as 'purely precautionary' stating 'every pitch is like sand at the moment'.

West Brom face a potential defensive reshuffle. Centre-back Semi Ajayi is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury against Oxford United, a setback in only his second game back from a lengthy spell out. If Ajayi is ruled out, Kyle Bartley, returning from suspension, is poised to step in against his former club.

Tony Mowbray's side are already without highly influential duo Josh Maja (leg) and Jed Wallace (calf) as they aim to solidify their playoff position. Meanwhile, Alex Mowatt, another former White, is eager to face his old team in this significant Championship encounter.



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[Jammy 07]

WBA are the draw specialists this season with one more than Burnley.

[Chilli D]

WBA are the draw specialists this season with one more than Burnley.

Yes and I expect them to come for another one on Saturday.
I think it could be a frustrating afternoon trying to break them down.

[1964white]

WBA are the draw specialists this season with one more than Burnley.

It's significant, since Mowbray took over the managerial reins at the Hawthorns in mid-January, West Brom have only drawn one of their last seven games.

WBA's other fourteen draws came under Corberan's boring style of football, the man some rate higher than Farke.

So, we can put that statistic to bed!!!!

[1964white]

WBA current injury

Semi Ajayi. Muscle injury. Mid March 2025.

J. Wallace. Calf Injury. Mid March 2025. - Always a thorn in our side

Josh Maja. Calf Injury. Mid April 2025. - Top scorer by far (12), Mowatt & Grant next best with 6 each.

[1964white]

Adam Armstrong one goal in four games since he joined the Baggies.

Hope we contain him this time.

[Sean_Nile]

Alex Mowett Leeds reject
Kyle Bartley Leeds reject

Battered 5-1 by Bournemouth in cup
Won 5-1 against Portsmouth in league

Mixed results since Carlos left... still have dreams of the playoffs...perhaps they wish they still had Tyler Roberts playing for them to be in with a chance.

[Chilli D]

They're a decent side, definitely difficult to beat. Pretty sure they will get one of the play off places.
But we should have too much for them.

[mentalcase]

More than winnable this game, our run will end sometime but hopefully not at home, wba can be a match for anyone in this division...on their day, lets hope Saturday isn't their day, as said. could be a frustrating afternoon, but, we have the best fire power in the league, so let them try contain us, one things for sure, we will never sit back.

[Cjay]

It's significant, since Mowbray took over the managerial reins at the Hawthorns in mid-January, West Brom have only drawn one of their last seven games.

WBA's other fourteen draws came under Corberan's boring style of football, the man some rate higher than Farke.

So, we can put that statistic to bed!!!!

Would agree on the boring part.

But he's doing well with Valencia CC.

11 points from 17 without him

12 points from 8 with

[1964white]

Would agree on the boring part.

But he's doing well with Valencia CC.

11 points from 17 without him

12 points from 8 with

Steadied them a bit as Valencia were in real danger of being relegated.

Blessing is they don't have to play Barcelona (12-1) & Atletico Madrid (6-0) any more this season.

[Cjay]

Steadied them a bit as Valencia were in real danger of being relegated.

Blessing is they don't have to play Barcelona (12-1) & Atletico Madrid (6-0) any more this season.

He has

It's what he does tbf

Makes teams solid.

Do wonder if he will ever try a more possession based style

[Chilli D]

They play Burnley on the 11th March so could do us a favour

[The Subhuman]

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Struijk
Gnonto
Rothwell
Joseph
Piroe
Solomon

[Ellandback1]

Leeds Utd v West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 1st March@12:00 | Elland Road

The Championship spotlight will shine brightly on Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime as Leeds United prepare to host West Bromwich Albion in a crucial encounter for both sides. Leeds, sitting comfortably at the summit with 75 points from 34 games, are on the cusp of Premier League promotion, while West Brom, currently 5th with 51 points, are battling tooth and nail to secure a playoff berth.

Daniel Farke's Leeds United have been nothing short of sensational this season. Their dominance is not just reflected in their league position but also in the underlying metrics. Accumulating an impressive 2.2 points per game, they are on course for a potentially record-breaking 101 points. This team isn't just winning; they are statistically superior.

Boasting the league's best expected goals (xG) rate of 1.81 per game and the stingiest expected goals against (xGA) rate at 0.84, Leeds are controlling games from both ends of the pitch. Their goal difference of +50 already hints at a team destined for great things, chasing Reading's Championship record of +67 from the 2005-06 season.

For West Brom, the challenge is clear. They arrive at Elland Road knowing that points are vital in their playoff pursuit. The Championship playoff race is notoriously tight this season, with a mere six-point gap separating 5th place West Brom from 14th-placed QPR. Just one point separates them from Coventry City in 7th, highlighting the precarious nature of their current position.



After seeing off both Sunderland and Sheffield Utd in recent games, many Whites fans may see this fixture as as a home banker, but Tony Mowbray will have other ideas. Off the field, the 61yo has only just returned to football following bowel cancer. As a fantastic gesture of goodwill, the Elland Road hierarchy had been in touch with the 61yo, offering him free tickets as their guest and an invitation to the boardroom!

Leeds will be without the services of Ethan Ampadu (knee), Patrick Bamford (various) and Max Wober (knee). Concerning pictures showing Dan James with ice packs and strapping around his ankle (following the win at Bramall Lane on Monday evening) have been allayed. The Welsh International described it as 'purely precautionary' stating 'every pitch is like sand at the moment'.

West Brom face a potential defensive reshuffle. Centre-back Semi Ajayi is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury against Oxford United, a setback in only his second game back from a lengthy spell out. If Ajayi is ruled out, Kyle Bartley, returning from suspension, is poised to step in against his former club.

Tony Mowbray's side are already without highly influential duo Josh Maja (leg) and Jed Wallace (calf) as they aim to solidify their playoff position. Meanwhile, Alex Mowatt, another former White, is eager to face his old team in this significant Championship encounter.

[JoeDenver]

Completely forgot (sorry WBA).

Saturday early kick-off

Chance to put down another marker against a side that has frustrated us in recent seasons.

Good to see Tony Mowbray back in a dugout.

Thought he was hard done by at Sunderland. Happy for him. Not a manager to be taken lightly. Might be our biggest remaining challenge given their obtaining Armstrong in Jan.

[1964white]

Meslier
Bogle
Rodon
Struijk
Firpo
Tanaka
Rothwell
Aaronson
James
Piroe
Solomon

[Cjay]

Farke on Ampadu and team news

Sadly a knee injury, it is cartilage. A bit of a complicated situation. Surgery would have meant him out for the season because if you do a surgery he'd be out for a few month. After consulations we are going to more conservative route. It means he is out for a few weeks. It means before the international break, we won't be available.

At the moment 50/50 he is back for the run-in. It's rehab work, the next two weeks he won't be able to do some running stuff. Next 4-6 weeks he won't be in team training.



Cover at CB

Unlucky with Wober out [too]. We have a few [options] who could play there. Obiously, I'd prefer to have my captain.



Comeback wins

It's great for team spirit. It was also deserved. When we had a blow before the game with the captain injured, says the spirit of the team. We want to keep this momentum.



CB options

We have Guilavogui who is an option. Byram is an option, Gruev has played in the CB role for Bulgaria. It depends what we need.

For the mpment we have Pascal and Joe, hopefully Max will be back after the interntional break. We have a busy final week before interntional break. Afterwards we have a bit more time. International break will help with recovery.



Bogle suspension risk

Over the course of a season, you sometimes expect a player not be available. It could happen. I'd prefer him to go through next games without a 10th yellow card. There were one or two avoidable yellow cards.



West Brom

In my prime? that's difficult. If you praise yourself too much then the setback is around the corner.

West Brom are a pretty strong side. They are in fifth. For that, we have to be switched on and keep going in the small details. I'm not getting too carried away. We want to ride this momentum.

I like when you see a manager works methodically. Their prinicples are always clear to see.



An open game?

We have faced sides fighting for the top two and you have to be patient. You never know before the game. West Brom are always very strcutured behind the ball.

I like Mowbray's handwriting. He loves them to play football. They have dominated possession like no other team in this division. They have lots of expereince and have lots of high quality players. Since he took over he has more than 60% possession in his games.

I really like his approach, espeically against the ball.




Backroom staff

They did exceptionally well [vs Sheffield United]. Bramall Lane is loud anyway so you can't give loads of tactical advice.



Bamford

Knackered (DF didn't say that but it's what he meant and faster to read)




Kinnear

It's a professional business if you are doing well as a club. It's a good sign if other clubs are interestied in our staff members. It belongs to this business.

When I was a young manager I would have been distracted by the rumours. It;s quite normal and is a good sign.




Solomon and Rothwell

I always like to be in the drivers seat. But we are not . Its not just our players. There is a time to speak about the future but not during the season.

Sometimes we talk behind the scenes but right now it is crucial to make a decision once we know what divison we are in.



Piroe

I'm not interested in the golden boot but I would take it. He plays with confidence, even if behind the striker. It's totally up to him, his quality is never in doubt.

He has shown this over several seasons. If you back him, he will always deliver goals. Not always in the manner in the No.10. His fitness level is important for him so can deliver high sprints.

He has worked hard to gain this level. His is doing outstanding at the moment.

[1964white]

CB options

We have Guilavogui who is an option. Byram is an option, Gruev has played in the CB role for Bulgaria. It depends what we need.

Daniel didn't mention Debayo, so he'd go with experience, well at least until we have won the league.

[Cjay]

Daniel didn't mention Debayo, so he'd go with experience, well at least until we have won the league.

Sincerely hope Rodon and Struijk hold out then.

Guilavogui at cb in games under pressure!!!!!

No thanks