Leeds Utd v Birmingham City Match Thread
1st January 2024@15:00hrs | Elland Road
With Christmas now out of the way, Leeds will be hoping to turn over a new leaf, starting with the arrival of Birmingham City on New Years Day.
A Lukas Jutkiewicz injury time penalty was all the separated the two sides when they met in August, but the arrival of Wayne Rooney has seen the Blues slip down the table to 20th. With just one win in fourteen, defeat against an out of form Leeds side could pile the pressure on the former Manchester Utd ace.
It's a tall order. Leeds are unbeaten at home this season, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways having lost three from their last five, all away from home.
Leeds are likely to be without the services of skipper Pascal Struijk. The 24yo has a groin strain that kept him out of the side that lost to West Brom on Friday evening. Liam Cooper is likely to deputise. Karl Darlow will deputise for the suspended Illan Meslier, who serves his second of three games excluded from the squad.
With Sam Byram fit again, it allowed Djed Spence an opportunity to play in his preferred right back role, and give Archie Gray a well deserved rest. Expect more of the same against Brum.
Ilia Gruev received mixed for his performance at the Hawthorns, though to be fair Sofascore (7.3) were full of praise for the Bulgarian International. It remains to be seen whether he retains his place, or Kamara is recalled.
Dan James too, was rested last time out, allowing Wilfred Gnonto a rare start. It wasn't the most convincing performance, but it's difficult to be critical when the entire team could under muster one shot on target all night. Expectation will fall on strike duo Rutter and Piroe doing a lot better than they have been in December, but with slim pickings from the bench, the Whites may have to make do.
Luke Ayling (leg), Jamie Shackleton (hamstring) and Stuart Dallas (leg) continue to miss out. Birmingham City will be without the services of Cody Drameh, who is not eligible to play against his parent club. Marc Roberts has had a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury, and returns to the physio table whilst Lee Buchanan returns after a concussion.