MX23RW : Sunday, March 30 07:51:23| >> :600:153854:153854:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Championship
Aug 30, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Bolton logo

1-0

Warnock (17')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Leeds United vs. Bolton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between troubled Leeds and winless Bolton at Elland Road.

Leeds United fans hoping for a new leaf under owner Massimo Cellino have so far been disappointed as troubles on and off the field continue to plague the club.

A new manager has already come and gone after just six matches in all competitions this season, with Dave Hockaday having his contract terminated by the club on Thursday.

A midweek defeat to Yorkshire rivals Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup proved to be the final straw for Cellino, whose initial appointment of Hockaday had raised plenty of eyebrows itself.

In truth, the news of Hockaday's sacking was not the most surprising given the bizarre events that followed Leeds's capitulation at Watford last weekend.

Cellino had decided to get rid of Hockaday following the defeat, only to make a sensational U-turn and give the new boss his backing once again.

That unconvincing vote of confidence lasted less than a week, however, as Leeds now find themselves without a manager once again, with Neil Redfearn due to take the reins for this weekend's match against Bolton Wanderers.

The hosts go into the game hovering just above the relegation zone having lost three of their opening four outings, while their solitary victory was also graced with a large slice of luck.

Hockaday's short-lived spell at this level was certainly not helped by his side's ill discipline on the field, with Leeds having had four men sent off in their six outings this season.

As a result, Luke Murphy, Sam Byram and Giuseppe Bellusci are all suspended for this weekend's match, although Gaetano Berardi is available once more having served his ban.

Souleymane Doukara remains sidelined with injury, meaning that Billy Sharp and Matt Smith are likely to start up front together again.

Caretaker boss Redfearn could hand a debut to Casper Sloth in midfield after he completed his move to the club earlier this week.

There has been less turmoil behind the scenes at Bolton, but matters on the pitch are not too much better for the Trotters.

They are the other side of the dotted line from Leeds having only managed to pick up one point from their opening four games of the season.

However, that point did come against the current league leaders Nottingham Forest, and Dougie Freedman will be hopeful that his side can conjure up a similar display to take advantage of a troubled Leeds outfit this weekend.

They do come into this match on the back of a victory having squeezed past Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday, although they did need extra time to win a dramatic match.

Jermaine Beckford may have played himself into a start against his former club having scored twice in that game, although Freedman must choose between him, Craig Davies and Joe Mason to fill the two places up front.

The Bolton manager could also be forced into making a change between the sticks after Adam Bogdan was forced off through injury last weekend.

Recent form

Leeds: LWWLLL

Bolton: LWDLLW

Possible starting lineups

Leeds: Silvestri; Wootton, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock; Austin, Sloth, Bianchi, Tonge; Sharp, Smith

Bolton: Lonergan; White, Mills, Wheater, Ream; Lee, Spearing, Kamara, Danns; Davies, Beckford

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:173633: cacheID:173633:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7625:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds boss David Hockaday gestures to players during their match with Middlesbrough on August 16, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Watford vs. Leeds
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd39267656292783
2Leeds UnitedLeeds392312478275181
3Burnley392215253114281
4Sunderland392012756371972
5Coventry CityCoventry39178145651559
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom391318848351357
7Middlesbrough391691459491057
8Bristol City391415104942757
9Watford39158164751-453
10Norwich CityNorwich391313136154752
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn39157174241152
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds391410155460-652
13Millwall391312143740-351
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR391112164553-845
16Swansea CitySwansea39129184051-1145
17Portsmouth39129184761-1445
18Stoke CityStoke391012174052-1242
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391012174057-1742
20Hull City391011183948-941
21Cardiff CityCardiff39913174363-2040
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton39108213560-2538
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth39713194077-3734


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!