Leeds United will hope to continue their promotion charge on Thursday, when they travel to the bet365 Stadium to face strugglers Stoke City in their 23rd Championship match of 2024-25.
The hosts are sixth last in 19th place with just 22 points following their 2-0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday on December 21, while the Whites are second with 45 points and beat Oxford United 4-0 last Saturday.
Match preview
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Stoke will be bitterly disappointed that they failed to beat Sheffield Wednesday considering their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute when the scoreline was 0-0 but still somehow emerged as 2-0 victors.
Head coach Narcis Pelach has come under pressure in recent weeks, but he insisted that his side's first-half showing was good, saying: "In the first half I think we were more pragmatic, aggressive, won many more duels and second balls which is what I demand from the team. The first 45 minutes are good."
Pelach's side are only above 22nd-placed Cardiff City – who occupy the final relegation spot – by four points and have played an extra game.
The Potters' form is concerning given they have lost four of their five most recent outings, are winless in their last eight matches and have conceded at least two goals in each of their past five games.
Stoke have at least been difficult to beat at home considering they have lost just once at the bet365 Stadium in their last eight fixtures, though they did draw five times in that period.
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Visitors Leeds produced five big chances and nearly three xG last time out, while also limiting Oxford United to one big chance and zero shots on target.
Boss Daniel Farke suggested that the margin of his team's win could prove important in the long run, telling reporters: "The most important thing for us was to return to the dressing room with the clean sheet and three important points. It was good for the goal difference. The performance was excellent and to create the chances against such a deep sitting block."
Leeds boast the division's best goal difference having scored 41 goals and conceded on 15 occasions in the second tier – the league's best offensive and third-best defensive returns.
Farke's side are in excellent form having won nine of their 13 most recent matches, with the club also keeping seven clean sheets in that time.
However, the Peacocks have been somewhat vulnerable away from home considering they have been held to a stalemate four times and been defeated twice in their last seven fixtures on the road.
Team News
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The hosts will be without defensive midfielder Ben Pearson, so expect Tatsuki Seko and Wouter Burger to appear in a double pivot together.
Centre-backs Ben Wilmot, Michael Rose and Ben Gibson could start in a back three in front of goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
Striker Thomas Cannon is likely to be supported by attackers Andrew Moran and Lewis Koumas.
As for Leeds, they will have to find ways of coping with the absence of defenders Junior Firpo and Maximilian Wober, who are not scheduled to return until early January due to muscle injuries.
The visitors could deploy a backline featuring Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Sam Byram.
Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka may start in midfield given Ilia Gruev has been ruled out until the middle of next month, while Dan James and Manor Solomon are likely to start out wide in light of the fact Joe Gelhardt will miss not be available for selection.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Wilmot, Rose, Gibson; Tchamadeu, Seko, Burger, Bocat; Moran, Koumas; Cannon
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Byram; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
We say: Stoke City 0-3 Leeds United
Despite the fact that Stoke have not often lost at home, they are in dire form and have been porous in their defensive third.
Additionally, Leeds have been outstanding recently, and it would not be surprising if they piled further misery on their hosts.
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Lewis Nolan
