Preview: Leeds United vs. Coventry City

Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Leeds United and Coventry City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aiming to close in on a top-two spot, Leeds United will welcome an out-of-form Coventry City side to Elland Road for a tasty-looking Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites recorded a routine two-goal success at the home of basement dwellers Cardiff City last time out, whilst the Sky Blues’ struggles continued against Swansea City in the East Midlands.

Match preview
© Imago

For the fourth time in their last five matches in the Championship, Leeds United managed to keep a rather comfortable clean sheet last weekend, when Saturday’s hosts visited South Wales and hammered home the final nail in Erol Bulut’s coffin at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The dismissal of Bluebirds left-back Joel Bagan after 23 minutes really set the tone for the contest, with the visiting Whites dominating proceedings in terms of possession, securing victory courtesy of Largie Ramazani’s first goal for the club and Joel Piroe’s second of the campaign.

Despite the ease of the win at the Cardiff City Stadium, there were still questions raised over the setup of Leeds’ midfield, with a large section of the fanbase criticising Daniel Farke’s decision to continue with a double pivot of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev in spite of their numerical advantage.

Nevertheless, a routine success in Wales moved the Whites up to sixth in the Championship table as the October international break approaches, five points behind early pacesetters West Bromwich Albion and four behind second-placed Sunderland, who have made a sensational start to the term under Regis Le Bris.

Before work commences on a revamp to Elland Road which will see its capacity grow to 53,000 supporters, Leeds need to build some positive momentum at their Yorkshire base in terms of results, with Farke’s side winning just one of their four matches at the venue across all competitions so far this season.

After a four-game unbeaten run in August across the Championship and the EFL Cup, Coventry City have endured a major decline in performances and results over recent weeks, with their winless streak in the second tier extending to a quartet of contests following a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City last Saturday.

Giving themselves a mountain to climb later in the match, the Sky Blues conceded two goals inside the opening 32 minutes due to strikes from Liam Cullen and Oliver Cooper, and despite an own goal from Ronald Pereira handing the hosts a glimmer of hope, they were unable to find an equalising goal in the East Midlands during the second half.

Earning just two points from their last four Championship fixtures, Coventry are currently languishing in 19th position in the second-tier rankings with a measly total of five points, already six points behind Saturday’s opponents Leeds who occupy the lowest of the playoff spots.

The Sky Blues’ long-term form will also be of particular concern to head coach Mark Robins, with this weekend’s visitors winning just one of their last 12 Championship matches stretching back to early April, meaning that Coventry have posted a record often linked to a relegation candidate for a considerable chunk of the calendar year.

Netting 29 second-tier goals between them during the 2023-24 campaign, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms are struggling to get going this time around for Coventry, with the attacking duo scoring on only two occasions across 12 combined appearances in the division to date.

Leeds United Championship form:

Leeds United form (all competitions):

Coventry City Championship form:

Coventry City form (all competitions):

Team News
© Imago

Appearing off the bench in recent weeks, Ao Tanaka is edging towards his full Leeds debut, although it is unlikely that Farke will displace either Gruev or Ampadu from the XI following last weekend’s win in Cardiff.

The Whites remain without the services of Dan James, with the Wales international recovering from a hamstring issue picked up earlier in the month.

Max Wober and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon were both left out of the squad last Saturday, and it remains to be seen whether either will be fit to feature this time around.

Coventry fans are awaiting news of Jamie Allen’s serious-looking knee injury, with the 29-year-old forced off in the first half during the defeat to Swansea.

The Sky Blues are moving towards a full-blow fitness criss in midfield, although Ben Sheaf’s phased return from injury looks set to replenish Robins’s options in that area of the pitch.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues continues to recover from a leg injury, with the Australian youngster yet to feature for his new employers since moving from the A-League over the summer.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Ampadu; Ramazani, Aaronson, Gnonto; Joseph

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Dovin; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell; Eccles, Torp, Mason-Clark, Rudoni, Wright; Simms

We say: Leeds United 3-0 Coventry City
Despite their recent struggles at Elland Road, Leeds will be massive favourites for victory on Saturday afternoon against a Coventry side who are yet to click into gear.

The visitors are short of options in midfield and could be blown away by a purring Leeds attack, adding to the Sky Blues’ mounting list of defeats.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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