A potentially pivotal Premier League contest involving two teams at opposite ends of the table takes place at Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime, as relegation-threatened Leeds United play host to top-four hopefuls Newcastle United.
While the Whites have won only one of their last five league games on home soil, the visitors have picked up maximum points in four of their last five matches on the road.
Match preview
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Few would have been surprised to see Sam Allardyce suffer defeat in his first game in charge of Leeds against Premier League leaders Manchester City last weekend, but the 68-year-old was able to take "some hope" from his side's second-half performance in a 2-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium.
Two almost identical first-half goals from Ilkay Gundogan put the Citizens in control, but an 85th-minute strike from Leeds' top scorer Rodrigo – his 12th Premier League goal of the campaign – set up a nervy finish for the hosts just 58 seconds after Gundogan had placed a penalty kick against the post.
Nevertheless, Leeds were eventually condemned to their 19th league defeat of the season, and as a result of both Everton and Nottingham Forest claiming maximum points on Monday, Allardyce has seen his side slip to 19th in the table, two points adrift of safety with three games remaining.
Leeds supporters are sure to be fearing the worst now that they sit inside the relegation zone, although the West Yorkshire side have won all four of their Premier League games when starting a gameweek in the bottom three this season.
Back-to-back fixtures against two of Allardyce's former teams in Newcastle and West Ham United are up next for Leeds, who drew the reverse fixtures against both sides earlier this season including a goalless stalemate at St James' Park in December.
A victory is required to provide a much-needed survival boost for the Whites this weekend, though, and Allardyce could be the man to steer them to three points having won more Premier League games versus the Magpies (13) than against any other team in his managerial career.
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After winning three successive Premier League games by an aggregate score of 13-3, Newcastle were unable to find the net in a 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal last weekend.
A long-range effort from Martin Odegaard and an unfortunate own goal from Fabian Schar condemned the Magpies to just their fifth league defeat of the season in an ill-tempered affair at St James' Park, and Eddie Howe's side still have work to do to secure Champions League football for next season.
Newcastle's top-four destiny remains in their own hands as they currently sit third in the Premier League table and three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand, but the resurgent form of the Reds has put pressure on both the Magpies and fourth-placed Manchester United heading down the home straight.
Although Newcastle still boast the best defensive record in the top flight this season, conceding only 29 goals in 34 matches, their resilience at the back has waned in recent months as they have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last 14 league matches.
The Magpies have also conceded in each of their last seven away games, but Howe will have had no complaints with his side accumulating 12 points from their last 15 available on the road, and another victory on Saturday at Elland Road, where they won 1-0 last season, can put the Toon Army in buoyant mood ahead of back-to-back home games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City next week.
Team News
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Leeds trio Luis Sinisterra (ankle), Tyler Adams (hamstring) and Stuart Dallas (leg) are all ruled out for the rest of the season, while Liam Cooper (muscle) is also sidelined but could be in a position to return before the season comes to a close.
Allardyce made the bold decision to replace under-fire goalkeeper Illan Meslier with Joel Robles last weekend, and the experienced Spaniard could retain his place between the sticks, while defenders Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk will be pushing to start after beginning on the substitutes' bench last time out.
Rodrigo could be handed a start in attack at the expense of Patrick Bamford, while Crysencio Summerville will battle with Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison for a place on the flanks.
As for Newcastle, Sean Longstaff was absent from the defeat against Arsenal with a foot injury and he is also ruled out of Saturday's match, while Jamal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are both ruled out for the rest of the season with respective calf and ACL problems.
Howe has admitted that he will have to rethink his selection in attack after the decision to name both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak in the same starting lineup for the first time against the Gunners failed to pay off.
Wilson may get the nod down the middle having scored eight league goals in as many games, including four in his last three away from home, but he could be replaced by either Miguel Almiron or Allan Saint-Maximin if Howe decides to name Isak as the central striker on Saturday.
The rest of Newcastle's first XI is expected to remain intact, with a back four of Kieran Trippier, Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn starting behind midfield trio Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton – the latter picked up a knock against Arsenal but has since taken part in training and is set to start against Leeds.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Robles; Ayling, Kristensen, Wober, Firpo; Roca, McKennie, Forshaw; Harrison, Rodrigo, Gnonto
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Almiron
We say: Leeds United 1-2 Newcastle United
Considering that Leeds have both scored and conceded in each of their last 10 games, and Newcastle doing the same in seven of their last 10, plenty of goalmouth action could be on the cards at Elland Road on Saturday.
Although the hosts are desperate to claim three valuable points in their quest to avoid the drop, we believe that Newcastle will return to winning ways and have the firepower to outscore their opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
