LEEDS V Leics

[TWA]

Elland Road
Monday, 5 April
Kick-off: 8pm
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
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Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke could be back in action after a month-long absence with a thigh injury.

Winger Lamine Sakho is out, though, after sustaining a knee injury in the reserves on Tuesday.

Leicester welcome three players back from injury - Jordan Stewart, Billy McKinlay and James Scowcroft.

Callum Davidson continues to be ruled out by pelvic and groin problems while the thigh injury afflicting Lee Morris will keep him sidelined.

Leeds (from): Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Radebe, Camara, Duberry, Viduka, Pennant, McPhail, Smith, Seth Johnson, Matteo, Caldwell, Olembe, Lennon, Domi, Richardson, Kilgallon, Bakke, Milner, Simon Johnson, Carson.

Leicester (from): Walker, Scimeca, Dabizas, Heath, Thatcher, Guppy, Freund, Izzet, Scowcroft, Bent, Dickov, Coyne, Canero, McKinlay, Nalis, Ferdinand.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
LEEDS UNITED and Leicester face each other for the 100th time in a League match, and the stakes could hardly be higher as the pair fight for their Premiership lives. It's set to be a nervy and fraught affair between two sides who've won a mere eleven League games and dropped an amazing 127 Premiership points between them. But Leeds have won two and drawn one of their last three at home, while Leicester are unbeaten in six home and away.

Both clubs languish in the relegation zone, but Leeds are inferior by three points. Their tally of 25 points from 30 starts represents the second worst season in their history in top flight football, and the lowest points return in the top tier for 57 years, since they managed a mere 23 points from 30 games in the 1946/47 campaign when eventually finishing seven points adrift at the foot.

Leeds have suffered a series of disappointments this season, and their visit to the Walkers Stadium in September must have been one of the lowest. A spectacular volley from Lilian Nalis, a double from Paul Dickov and a header from James Scowcroft gave the Foxes an easy 4-0 win. It was Leicester's first victory of the season to silence their critics and probably provoked then Leeds boss Peter Reid to a torrent of verbal expletives in the dressing room afterwards.

LEICESTER CITY travel to Elland Road for the 150th Premier League match in their history, and three points would be a fitting celebration for Micky Adams, who took up the Foxes managerial reigns two years ago.

City have lost only once in seven League and Cup games on the road, and have won more times on their Premiership travels than at the Walkers Stadium (three wins to two).

Leicester are looking to complete a second Premiership 'double' over Leeds and fifth in total over them on their 50th League trip to the west Yorkshire club.
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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LEEDS UNITED
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 19th 25 points

Won six games, lost 17, scored 29 goals and conceded 60 in the Premiership so far this season.
Nine points inferior after 30 games to their previous worst Premiership campaign last season.
Need to score one goal to total 350 all-time in home Premier League matches.
Not kept a clean sheet in 12 League outings - the longest such sequence in the top division.
Kept fewer clean sheets than any other club in the top flight (three).
Failed to score in seven League games at Elland Road.
On the plus side, picked up seven points from a last possible nine at home, scoring eight goals in the three matches.
Beat Wolves 4-1, drew 2-2 with Liverpool and defeated Manchester City 2-1 in successive home games since losing 0-3 to Middlesbrough on 31 January.
16 of their 60 conceded goals have been shipped in the last quarter-hour of Premiership games.
Already been 'doubled' by Tottenham and Birmingham.
The next fixture is another vital one, away to Blackburn next Saturday.
After this, three home games and four away remain, including difficult trips to Arsenal and Chelsea and a home fixture with fellow relegation threatened Portsmouth.
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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LEEDS UNITED
Squad profiles

If on the field at kick off, Seth JOHNSON will be making his 200th career League start.
If involved from the opening whistle, loanee Jermaine PENNANT will be making his 50th career League start.

LEICESTER CITY
Squad profiles

If involved from the outset, James SCOWCROFT will be making his 100th start for Leicester and 300th career club start.
If he turns out, Brian DEANE will be facing a former club.
If in the action from the begiinning, Steffen FREUND will be making his 100th Premiership start.
Should Jordan STEWART be on the field at kick off, he'll be making his 50th League start for Leicester.
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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Leicester City 4-0 Leeds United
15 September 2003 - Ref: Jeff Winter
Leeds scorers: Nalis 20, Dickov 23, 83, Scowcroft 90
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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Leicester 41 wins, Leeds 31, Draws 27
Prem: Leicester 7 wins, Leeds 7, Draws 1

HEAD TO HEAD at Leeds
League: Leicester 28 wins, Leeds 9, Draws 12
Prem: Leicester 4 wins, Leeds 2, Draws 1

[TWA]

Right, if we don't get 3 points out of this tonight, we're fucked and deserve to go down.

Nuff said.

CAN THE REAL LEEDS UNITED PLEASE TURN UP?!

FORTRESS ELLAND ROAD - THOU SHALT NOT PASS!! :twisted:

Lads, do it for Chris and Kevin who on this sad day in April 2000 gave their lives supporting you.

MOT

[Smudger]

We have 3 games in 9 days coming up. If we can get 9pts out of them i reckon we are safe, coz that will leave us with just a point or 2 to get for guarenteed survival.
We can beat Leicester....so lets just fuckin do it.

good luck 2nite :thumbsup:

[TWA]

Cheers mate :thumbsup:

Although I'm hoping we don't have to rely on luck and that we can wipe the floor with their sorry arses. :mrgreen:

However, if they trounce our sorry arses then it's time to dust off the baseball bats and start preparing for 5.30pm Friday KO's V the likes of Millwall and Shef United.

[kennethlindheim]

Good luck tonight guys.

[TWA]

Thanks kennethlindheim, this is undoubtedly our most important game of the season thus far and also the Istanbul anniversary. Just hope the players do the occasion justice, I know the supporters will.

I just hope Leics observe the minute's silence.

[goddess7cr]

will be watching, think it's obvious who i want to win

[TWA]

Yes, and more fool you all.

[goddess7cr]

Yes, and more fool you all.

huh?

[TWA]

Love us or hate it, you'll all miss your matches against us. Great atmostphere, great banter, etc.....but if you'd rather play Leics next term then as I said, more fool you all.

[goddess7cr]

i hate leicster i want leeds to win

try and make myself more clear next time

[TWA]

Well that's OK then - you can come again! :mrgreen:

[goddess7cr]

[robaldo]

come on the city :mrgreen: