Championship | Gameweek 20

Dec 10, 2024 at 8pm UK

Elland Road

Leedsvs.Middlesbrough

Match preview

The Peacocks are just one point behind Sheffield United, who are currently in first place. Only Burnley have picked up more points in the last five games.

The home team were on top at both ends of the pitch against Derby. They had 18 shots and 10 efforts from inside the penalty area, while Derby had just three shots, two of which were in the box.

Manager Daniel Farke was really pleased with how his players performed, and told journalists: "In the first 10 or 15 minutes, we made some hasty decisions, but after that, we dominated the game and didn't give them a chance to get a shot off. We had lots of chances and could have scored a few more, but it was a pretty dominant performance overall.

Farke's team have scored 33 goals and conceded 13 times in the second tier. That makes them the league's joint best offensive and third-best defensive club out of the 24 teams in the division.

Leeds are on a roll, having won four out of the last five games. They've only lost twice in the last 14 matches, winning nine of them.

The hosts have been absolutely amazing at home this season. They've won seven games in a row at Elland Road, keeping six clean sheets and conceding just once.

Middlesbrough go into Tuesday's game having arguably outplayed Burnley last time out. They created two big chances while preventing the Clarets from producing any big chances of their own.

The team, led by Michael Carrick, has seen a notable improvement in its performance. After losing four, drawing two, and winning four of its first 10 league matches, it has since won five, drawn two, and lost two.

Boro were 21st for goals, 18th for big chances scored and last for shot conversion after 10 match weeks, but they ranked first in each of these metrics in their next eight games.

Carrick's team have won four of their past six Championship fixtures, scoring 19 goals, but they didn't keep a clean sheet in that time.

The visitors are on a four-game unbeaten streak away from home, scoring 14 goals but conceding seven times.

Recent Performance

Leeds United Championship form:LWWWLW

Middlesbrough Championship form:WWWLWD

Team News

Leeds have a pretty healthy squad, but they'll still be without midfielder Ilia Gruev and forward Joe Gelhardt.The hosts will start Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Wilfried Gnonto behind striker Joel Piroe.In midfield, Farke will pair Tanaka and Rothwell together in a double pivot.

It looks like defender Junior Firpo won't be back until January 2025 because of a hamstring injury. Sam Byram is scheduled to make his comeback at the end of December, so the home team might choose Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Maximilian Wober for the defence.

Middlesbrough are without a number of defenders for the clash, with Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan, Rav van den Berg and Tommy Smith set to miss out.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Neto Borges will be playing as full-backs, with Dael Fry and George Edmundson in central defence.

Midfielder Aidan Morris is also out, so Carrick will probably pick midfielders Daniel Barlaser and Hayden Hackney to fill the gap.

Possible starting lineup

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Wober; Tanka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Piroe

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Dijksteel, Fry, Edmundson, Borges; Barlaser, Hackney; Doak, Azaz, Burgzorg; Conway