Brighton & Hove Albion will continue their push for Europe when they travel to Elland Road to face relegation-threatened Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Whites will be seeking revenge against the Seagulls after losing 1-0 in the reverse fixture at the Amex Stadium back in August.
Match preview
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Javi Gracia made an instant impact in the Leeds hotseat when he guided his new side to a crucial 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Southampton in his first match two weeks ago. However, the Whites were quickly brought back down to earth with successive defeats without reply against Fulham and Chelsea.
A 2-0 loss at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup was followed just four days later by a slender 1-0 defeat to an out-of-sorts Chelsea outfit last weekend, with Wesley Fofana heading home the only goal of the game eight minutes after half time to condemn Leeds to their 13th Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Gracia is sure to be aware of the mammoth task that he faces at Elland Road, with the Whites precariously poised just above the relegation zone in 17th spot, sitting above 18th-placed Everton only by goal difference albeit with a game in hand on the Toffees.
Leeds will welcome a return to West Yorkshire on Saturday, where they have picked up 16 of their 22 Premier League points so far this season, and Gracia will hope that the Elland Road faithful can create another "special" atmosphere, as they did against Southampton, to spur on his side against Brighton.
Success against the Seagulls could prove challenging, however, as the Whites have lost and failed to score in nine of their last 12 meetings against them – a 2-0 home win in the Championship in March 2017 is their only victory during this run.
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Brighton's European charge was somewhat derailed after dropping five points across back-to-back games against Crystal Palace and Fulham at the end of February. However, the Seagulls returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with an impressive 4-0 victory at home to West Ham United last weekend.
Without the presence of head coach Roberto De Zerbi due to a one-game touchline ban, Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck were all on the scoresheet to help Brighton breeze past the Hammers and claim their 11th league win of the campaign.
Brighton currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, just three points behind the top six and seven points behind the Champions League positions, but they have three games in hand on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur as well as at least one match in hand on every other team in the division.
The Seagulls supporters are dreaming of European football next season, while a potential trip to Wembley could also be on the cards if De Zerbi's men beat League Two outfit Grimsby Town in their FA Cup quarter-final tie later this month.
However, Brighton's sole focus is currently on Saturday's trip to Elland Road, and they will be confident of success having won three and drawn two of their last five meetings with Leeds, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Team News
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Leeds trio Rodrigo (ankle), Stuart Dallas (leg) and Adam Forshaw (groin) remain sidelined with long-term injuries, while Patrick Bamford (leg), Liam Cooper (muscle) and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) are all doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Luke Ayling could keep his place at right-back ahead of Rasmus Kristensen, joining Robin Koch, Maximilian Wober and Junior Firpo in the back four.
If Bamford is not deemed fit to start, club-record signing Georginio Rutter could be handed his second successive start in attack, while Wilfried Gnonto will be looking to force his way back into the first XI ahead of either Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison or Crycensio Summerville after beginning on the substitutes' bench last weekend.
As for Brighton, Adam Lallana (muscle) and Jakub Moder (knee) are both ruled out with long-term injuries, but Levi Colwill (muscle) could be in a position to return to the matchday squad after playing 45 minutes for the club's Under-21s last Sunday, while De Zerbi has also confirmed that Solly March is fit to feature.
Tariq Lamptey is doubtful after being forced off in the 16th minute against West Ham with a knee problem, with Veltman the most likely candidate to start at right-back as a result.
Jason Steele was handed a surprise start in goal at the expense of Robert Sanchez and is expected to keep his place between the sticks, while the fearsome attacking quartet of Mitoma, Mac Allister, March and Evan Ferguson is set to continue, although Welbeck will be pushing the latter for a start as the central striker.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Adams, McKennie; Summerville, Aaronson, Gnonto; Rutter
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; Caicedo, Gross; March, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson
We say: Leeds United 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have conceded in each of their last nine Premier League away games, which will provide Leeds with confidence of breaching their backline on Saturday.
However, the Seagulls possess the attacking threat to outscore their opponents, and they will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points at Elland Road to keep their European dreams alive.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
