Still searching for their fiLeeds United vs. Sheffield Wednesdayrst Championship point since securing promotion from the third tier, Sheffield Wednesday make the trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Saturday afternoon. The two teams enter this contest off the back of disappointing EFL Cup exits on penalties to League Two opposition in midweek.
Prediction of The Match
At the fourth time of asking, Leeds United picked up their first Championship win of the new season when they beat newly-promoted Ipswich Town 4-3 in a thrilling contest at Portman Road last weekend.
Despite falling behind early doors, the Whites raced into a 3-1 lead within the opening 19 minutes courtesy of strikes from Georginio Rutter – his first for the club – Wilfried Gnonto and debutant Joel Piroe. Luis Sinisterra then added a fourth in the second half either side of strikes from Ipswich duo Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin to help Daniel Farke open his account in the second tier as Leeds boss.
The West Yorkshire outfit then travelled to Salford City for an EFL Cup second-round tie on Tuesday night, but they were beaten 9-8 on penalties by their fourth-tier counterparts following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, with Farke left ruing the plethora of missed chances by his side who hit just nine of their 33 shots on target.
Seeking to quickly put aside their midweek disappointment, Leeds will welcome a return to Elland Road where they have made an unbeaten start to the season, winning one and drawing two of their opening three home matches.
However, the Whites have failed to win their last two meetings with Saturday’s opponents Sheffield Wednesday, including a 2-0 home defeat in their most recent league encounter in January 2020.
Xisco Munoz has endured a difficult start to life as Sheffield Wednesday head coach, as his side have lost each of their opening four Championship matches this term by an aggregate score of 9-3.
The Owls’ only success so far this season was a penalty shootout triumph against League Two outfit Stockport County in the first round of the EFL Cup earlier this month following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. However, they failed to replicate that success in the second round on Tuesday night.
Indeed, Sheffield Wednesday played out another 1-1 draw, this time at home to Mansfield Town, before losing 5-4 on penalties to the League Two side, and, like Leeds at Salford, were left to rue several missed chances in the final third.
Despite scoring in five of their opening six games in all competitions, Munoz has encouraged his players to provide “something special” in the final third to give them a batter chance of ending their miserable run of form and moving off the foot of the Championship table.
Sheffield Wednesday enter Saturday’s fixture against Leeds seeking to claim back-to-back wins at Elland Road for the first time since 1998, while the 2007-08 campaign is the only time the Owls have lost each of their first five games of a new league season, an unwanted feat Munoz and co will be keen to avoid this weekend.
Team News
Leeds are set to be without full-back Sam Byram after he picked up an adductor injury against Ipswich, while Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Daniel James and Junior Firpo all remain in the treatment room.
While the futures of first-team stars including Gnonto, Sinisterra and Crysensio Summerville all remain uncertain at the time of writing, Farke has bolstered his ranks this week with the additions of midfield duo Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara, and right-back Djed Spence, who are all in contention to make their debuts this weekend.
Illan Meslier is set to return in goal at the expense of Karl Darlow, while Luke Ayling, Joe Rodon and Piroe will also be pushing to start after being rested in midweek.
As for Sheffield Wednesday, Mallik Wilks is closing in on a return after a spell out with an ankle injury, but Saturday’s game may come too soon for the attacker, while Mohamed Diaby is ruled out with an ankle issue of his own.
After making eight changes in midweek, Munoz is expected to recall a number of players to his first XI for the clash against Leeds, with defensive trio Liam Palmer, Bambo Diaby and Di’Shon Bernard all set to start in front of goalkeeper Devis Vasquez.
Influential midfielder Barry Bannan could be joined in the middle of the pitch by either George Byers, Will Vaulks or Tyreeq Bakinson, while Ashley Fletcher is set to be replaced up front by Michael Smith.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Rodon, Cresswell, Struijk; Gnonto, Gray, Ampadu, Sinisterra; Rutter, Piroe
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Paterson, Palmer, Diaby, Bernard, Delgado; Vaulks, Bannan; Windass; Gregory, Smith
We say: Leeds United 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday
An entertaining contest could be on the cards between two teams who will be desperate to bounce back from midweek cup exits, although Leeds will enter Saturday’s clash as favourites.
Sheffield Wednesday are yet to get going this term and while they have the potential to cause problems to Leeds’ backline, the hosts should to do enough to claim all three points at Elland Road.
