MX23RW : Wednesday, February 26 21:17:48| >> :600:1087566:1087566:
Feb 15, 2020 at 3pm UK at ​Elland Road
Attendance: 35,819
LeedsLeeds United
1-0
Bristol City
Ayling (16')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Leeds United vs. Bristol City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Leeds United and Bristol City, including team news and predicted lineups.

Leeds United will be looking for just their second Championship win of 2020 when they welcome Bristol City to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa's side remain second in the table despite a poor run of form, while Bristol City are just outside the playoffs in seventh having won five of their last six in England's second tier.


Match preview

Shocked Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa on February 8, 2020© Reuters

It would be fair to say that many Leeds fans were fearful heading into Tuesday's clash with Brentford, and their mood would not have been helped when under-fire goalkeeper Kiko Casilla dropped a huge clanger to allow the hosts to take the lead.

The Whites responded impressively to secure a share of the spoils at Griffin Park, though, and it will go down as an important result having lost to Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest in their two previous games.

There is no getting away from the fact that Leeds have now only won one of their last seven in the Championship, though, which has seen the gap to third position evaporate.

Indeed, Bielsa's side are now level on points with third-placed Fulham and sit six behind leaders West Bromwich Albion, who are just starting to pull clear of the chasing pack at a key stage of the campaign.

The Whites are certainly due a big result, but the fact that they are only three points clear of seventh-placed Bristol City heading into this contest is an indication of their precarious position.

Filip Benkovic celebrates scoring for Bristol City against Derby County on February 12, 2020© Reuters

A horror run of form in the latter stages of 2019 saw Bristol City pick up just three points from five matches, while they also started 2020 with a 4-0 home defeat to Brentford.

Things have turned in recent weeks, though, and Lee Johnson's side will enter this match having won five of their last six in the Championship to move to within the brink of the top six.

The Robins, who just fell short of the playoffs last season as they finished eighth, recorded a 3-2 victory over Derby County on Wednesday evening.

They will actually follow the trip to Elland Road with a home game against leaders West Brom next weekend, and their results in the two fixtures could determine whether they are capable of challenging for promotion.

Leeds have won five of their last six Championship meetings, though, and have lost just once to the Robins in the league since 1979, which is an indication of the size of the task facing the visitors this weekend.

Leeds Championship form: LLWLLD

Bristol City Championship form: WWWWLW
Bristol City form (all competitions): LWWWLW


Team News

Brentford's Said Benrahma scores their first goal against Leeds on February 11, 2020© Reuters

Leeds midfielder Adam Forshaw has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as he prepares to undergo hip surgery, while Tyler Roberts and Robbie Gotts are both unavailable through injury.

Bielsa revealed at Thursday's press conference that the Whites had not picked up any fresh concerns from the Brentford clash, though, and therefore the same XI could take to the field.

Jean-Kevin Augustin is still waiting for his first start since arriving on loan last month, but Patrick Bamford will continue in attack despite failing to score in seven of his last eight Championship outings.

Casilla has also been confirmed as a starter despite his clanger against the Bees.

Bristol City, meanwhile, will again be without the services of Tomas Kalas, Marley Watkins and Benik Afobe.

Filip Benkovic, Nakhi Wells and Markus Henriksen all made their first starts for the club on Wednesday night, and it appears that all three could retain their spots this weekend.

Andreas Weimann and Tommy Rowe are two players who will be pushing to return to the starting XI this weekend, although Johnson is unlikely to make significant changes from the win over the Rams.

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas; Costa, Hernandez, Phillips, Klich, Harrison; Bamford

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Hunt, Williams, Benkovic, Dasilva; Paterson, Henriksen, Smith, Eliasson; Wells, Diedhiou


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We say: Leeds 1-1 Bristol City

Leeds are certainly due a win, but it is difficult to back them with any real confidence this weekend considering Bristol City's form. The visitors have so much quality in the final third, and we fancy Johnson's side to pick up a share of the spoils at Elland Road.


body check tags ::

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Leeds United and Bristol City?

Leeds United
Draw
Bristol City
Leeds United
55.3%
Draw
19.1%
Bristol City
25.5%
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Brentford's Said Benrahma scores their first goal against Leeds on February 11, 2020
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool27261064174779
2Manchester CityMan City27183668293957
3Leicester CityLeicester27155754272750
4Chelsea2713594537844
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd27118841291241
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs2711794436840
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27101072925440
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2791263832639
9Arsenal2781363936337
10Burnley27114123339-637
11Everton27106113641-536
12Southampton27104133448-1434
13Crystal Palace2789102432-833
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2787122441-1731
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton27610113239-728
16Bournemouth2775152643-1726
17Aston Villa2774163452-1825
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham2766153248-1624
19Watford2759132443-1924
20Norwich CityNorwich2746172451-2718

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