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Leeds logo
Championship
Aug 22, 2015 at 12.30pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

1-1

Wood (61')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Matias (37')

Preview: Leeds United vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole runs the rule over Saturday lunchtime's Yorkshire derby in the Championship between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Saturday lunchtime's match on the third weekend of the Championship season is a Yorkshire derby as Leeds United take on Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.

The duo come into the match having suffered polarising late emotions in midweek, with Leeds conceding twice late on throw away a comfortable lead at Bristol City, while Wednesday salvaged a point at home to Reading.


Leeds

Chris Wood of Leeds United celebrates scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Leeds United at Ashton Gate on August 19, 2015© Getty Images

One defeat on penalties to Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the Capital One Cup, but Leeds are still unbeaten in the league having drawn all three of their matches so far. Including the final game of last season, Leeds have now drawn four straight in the Championship. If it becomes five against Wednesday, they will equal a club record.

This season, positive displays at home to Burnley and away at Reading were followed by Wednesday night's collapse at Ashton Gate as Uwe Rosler's men were denied a first maximum.

Mirco Antenucci's first-half penalty and Chris Wood's first goal for the club had seemingly put Leeds in control until Kieran Agard and Aden Flint scored in the 89th and 95th minutes to send the home fans that decided not to leave early bonkers.

Wood, especially, would have been delighted to break his duck having failed to hit the target with any of his shots in the opening two league matches.

After the encouraging opening-day display at home to Burnley, Leeds have been on the road for their subsequent three games and will be looking forward to three of their next four games coming at Elland Road.

They will want to improve on last year's record in front of their own fans, having lost more games than they won in 2014-15 at LS11.

Recent form: DLDD


Wednesday

Lewis McGugan of Sheffield is challenged by Orlando Sa and Stephen Quinn of Reading during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Reading at Hillsborough Stadium on August 19, 2015© Getty Images

One point from two games has brought Sheffield Wednesday supporters back to earth after an encouraging start to the season.

They eased past Bristol City on the opening day before putting four past Mansfield Town in the Cup, but since then they have gone a little cold in the matches against Ipswich Town and Reading.

A narrow defeat at Ipswich, who had the best home record in the league last season, wasn't the worst result, but needing a last-gasp goal after a laboured display against Reading will have worried new head coach Carlos Carvalhal.

But for a late mistake by Royals keeper Jonathan Bond, which substitute Modou Sougou capitalised on, Reading would have left Hillsborough with the points and inflicted a second straight defeat on the Owls.

The Owls are without a win in four away league games, but their final three away games last season were against the trio that went up - Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford - and their first this year was at one of the toughest grounds to visit.

They have conceded two or more goals in five of their last six away games, but on the whole last season the Owls were strong on their travels with the seventh-best away record.

Recent form: WWLD


Team News

Leeds United's Lewis Cook in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Fulham at Elland Road on December 13, 2014© Getty Images

Lewis Cook serves the final game of his three-match ban, so Rosler will again have to decide what he wants to do in midfield.

Youngster Kalvin Phillips impressed against Reading and Bristol City, but three games in a week might be too much and Rosler could opt to bring Luke Murphy back in.

Elsewhere, Antenucci's goal and assist at Ashton Gate should see him retain his place in attack, with Stuart Dallas perhaps dropping to the bench if Alex Mowatt also returns to the starting lineup as expected.

Wednesday's star player from last season, goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, missed the visit of Reading with a bruised kidney suffered at Ipswich and he could again be absent here, with Lewis Price continuing between the sticks.

Glenn Loovens went off injured in the first half against Reading and if he is not fit to return here then Vincent Sasso is likely to continue alongside Tom Lees at the back.

Sougou will be hoping to have earned a start with his late equaliser and could replace Ross Wallace given that the Scot has already played 180 minutes this week.

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor; Murphy, Adeyemi, Mowatt; Byram, Antenucci; Wood

Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Price; Hunt, Lees, Sasso, Wiggins; Hutchinson, Lopez; Sougou, McGugan, Matias; Joao


Head To Head

Leeds have lost just one of their last seven home matches against Wednesday, winning four. Last season it was a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

The most recent meeting was at Hillsborough on the penultimate weekend of last season, with Leeds fighting back from 1-0 down at half time to win 2-1 away from home.

In fact, Wednesday have taken the lead in the last seven meetings.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Leeds 1-0 Wednesday

Leeds are six without a win at Elland Road and haven't gone seven without victory since 1997. We think that they might just edge this one it what could be a contest of few chances.



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A general view of Ashton Gate ahead of the Sky Bet League One match between Bristol City and Chesterfield at Ashton Gate on October 11, 2014
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