QPR v Leeds Utd
Saturday 18th January 2020 12.30 | Loftus Road
Leeds travel down to their least favourite part of the Country on Saturday as they look to bounce back from last weekends home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday. Shepherds Bush, West London is the location, home of Mark Warburton's Queens Park Rangers. Although separated by 19 points and 13 places in the Championship, Leeds record in the Capital does not read well. The Whites have won once in London in over two years, and with the gap between automatic promotion and the play offs narrowed to six points, there has never been a more important time to get back on track.
Both teams are on an identical run (One win in the last six matches), but with the Hoops playing at home, they will fancy their chances. Much will depend on exciting midfielder Eberechi Eze. The 21 year old is full of pace, and glides across the ground like the ball is glued to his foot. In his 16 appearances, Eze has netted 6 times, and has provided 6 assists. Warburton has to decide whether to recall Jordan Hugill or stick with Nakhi Wells up front.
Hernandez will start for Bielsa's team following his second half come back against the Wendies last weekend. Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw remain sidelined. Patrick Bamford will lead the attack as Leeds have no other striking options. Let's hope he doesn't get injured! Stuart Dallas will move to left back in place of Barry Douglas, if he can replicate the performance he put in on the right hand side of the pitch earlier in the season it could be a good move by Bielsa.
Last time the two teams faced each other at Elland Road back in November Leeds took all three points. Goals in each half from Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison settled the contest. Leeds made their dominance pay after 39 minutes when Harrison cut in from the left and pulled the ball back to Roberts, who coolly slotted home his first goal of the season. Leeds finally got some breathing space with a second goal from Harrison. He played a one-two before bending an effort around Kelly and into the net to seal a well-earned victory.
QPR have won four of their past five home games against Leeds in all competitions, beating them twice during the 2018-19 season in the league and FA Cup. Leeds have won four of their past five league games against QPR, with their one defeat in this run coming away from home last season. QPR have scored at least five goals in their past two home games in all competitions - they last scored 5+ goals in three consecutive home matches in December 1930. In his club management career, Marcelo Bielsa has lost three consecutive away games against an opponent only once, losing three in a row away at Santos Laguna as manager of Atlas between December 1993 and November 1994.
Leeds Starting XI:
Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison, Costa, Hernandez, Bamford
Subs: Meslier, Casey, Alioski, Struijk, McCalmont, Shackleton, Stevens