Derby County v Leeds Utd Match Thread
Sunday 29th December@17:45pm | Pride Park
Leeds United will be aiming to cap off the year in style as they make their way to Pride Park on Sunday evening to face Derby County.
The Rams have been in good form as of late, demonstrating their resilience, with a 0-0 draw against Burnley at Deepdale, a commanding 4-0 victory over Portsmouth, and a hard-fought 2-1 win against the Baggies on Boxing Day.
Their only setback since the last meeting with Leeds, which resulted in a comfortable 2-0 win for the Whites at the beginning of the month, was a narrow loss at Luton. Despite this minor blip, Derby has shown significant improvement and could present problems for the Whites away from home.
Currently, there is a stark contrast in the standings between the two teams, with Leeds enjoying a 21-point and 13-place advantage over the Rams at the halfway point of the Championship season. The Whites are on a trajectory that could see them amass an impressive 96 points if they maintain their current form. However, competition is fierce, with only a single point separating the top three.
After being rested during the recent game against Stoke, AO Tanaka is likely to return to the starting line-up, with Joe Rothwell potentially dropping to the bench. Defensive concerns persist, as Ilia Gruev, Junior Firpo, and Max Wober remain side-lined due to injury, suggesting Farke will stick with a back four of Bogle, Rodon, Struijk and Byram
Manor Solomon and Dan James have been wreaking havoc on opposing defences with their blistering pace, exceptional link-up play, and ability to get the ball into the box. Their performances have solidified their place in the starting line-up over the likes of Gnonto & Ramazani.
Rams boss Paul Warne isn't expected to make any changes to the side that beat West Brom on Boxing Day. In midfield, Ebou Adams and Kenzo Goudmijn are expected to play as pivots in front of the back four. Mendez-Laing should take his place on the left, with Kayden Jackson on the opposite flank. Marcus Harness is expected to play as a number 10 behind Jerry Yates who leads the attack.