Leeds United - v - Cardiff City ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Leeds hope defender Matthew Pennington is passed fit to start as selection issues continue to mount for head coach Thomas Christiansen.

Pennington missed the goalless midweek draw at Hull after sustaining an injury in training and will be monitored. Fellow centre-half Liam Cooper sits out the second game of a four-match ban, while playmaker Samuel Saiz and midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O'Kane are also serving suspensions.

Conor Shaughnessy was forced off at the KCOM Stadium with an ankle injury and another defender, Luke Ayling, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after ankle surgery.

Neil Warnock could hand debuts to January signings Gary Madine and Jamie Ward. Madine joined from Bolton while Ward came from Nottingham Forest in a swap deal involving Lee Tomlin.

Lee Peltier, Craig Bryson and Matthew Connolly are all stepping up their rehabilitation after injuries, but this weekend will come too soon for the trio. Cardiff sit fourth in the Championship table, seven points ahead of Leeds, having played one game fewer.

Leeds have won one of their last 10 home league games against Cardiff (D3 L6), winning 1-0 courtesy of an Alex Mowatt strike in November 2015.

Cardiff haven't conceded more than once in any of their last 12 league trips to Elland Road (seven conceded in total) since a 3-0 defeat in April 1963.

Since a run of four successive league wins, Leeds United have picked up just two points in their last five games (D2 L3), failing to score on four occasions in this run.

Cardiff have conceded 56% of their league goals in the last 30 minutes this season; only opponents Leeds (58%) have recorded a higher percentage.

Leeds have lost 11 of the 12 games they have fallen behind in this season in the Championship (92%); the worst such percentage in the competition.

Since leaving Leeds in April 2013, Neil Warnock has faced his former club four times and won all four matches, two of which have been with Cardiff.

Leeds are officially in a slump again and Neil Warnock's Cardiff are one of the worst sides to play against when you're struggling.

The Bluebirds are so tough to beat, they can grind you down and Gary Madine is a superb addition for them. This will be a gritty affair and I think Cardiff will prevail.

0 - 3 them. MID TABLE MEDIOCRACY AS USUAL.

MOT.

[Rev72]

Tyler Roberts not even in the team as he has a 'minor knock'.

So we go with what we have..take a point now given the players who are missing..hardy a daunting game for them is it

A real tough test..might even start drinking now.

[Rev72]

Question is can TC motivate the players to put up a spirited performance and show some fight to grind out a result?

[dogcopmarchingon]

It does not look good, but have to be positive or wave good bye to the season

[WTF11]

Tyler Roberts not even in the team as he has a 'minor knock'.

So we go with what we have..take a point now given the players who are missing..hardy a daunting game for them is it

A real tough test..might even start drinking now.

Forshaw was the same, do we believe it this time or is it just mind games?

Going to be hard on the scratch team we can field, one way or another.

[Rev72]

Well if we lose and results go against us (which they probably will) that will put us 7 points a drift of 6th with 16 games to go and on 44 points.

How many of the remaining games would we need to win to get 6th spot?..10/11/12 perhaps?

A very tall order isn't it..think the reality is we won't get 6th spot this season unless we have a miracle (The Rev gets out the pray mat)

[Rev72]

Another question that will need an answer..will TC get the boot if we do fail to get 6th spot?

[Rev72]

Well I am trying to be positive but it just feels like another defeat is on its way..especially given our current state with bans/injuries.

[OldWhiteTaff]

Fkn hell, doom and gloom already........... Look at this team:

Etheridge, Manga/Richards (who ???), Bamba, (the guy who was too sh*t for us), Morrison, Traore (the same sh*t Traore who used to play for Forest...), Grujic (unknown foreigner), Ralls, Wildschutt (Norwich loanee), Ward (Forest loanee), Madine (didn't we beat Bolton already....)/Zohore (Grot but a bit older)

FFS we should be champing at the bit to get stuck into this lot. I don't give a fk where they are in the league, they've recently lost away at Bolton and QPR (didn't we beat both of them ???), and at home to Fulham and PNE, as well as drawing 0-0 at home to Mansfield. I for one am really looking forward to tomorrow.

[Rev72]

Doom and gloom?

We are just sharing our concerns about the game given our current situation with injuries/suspensions.

I don't see any doom and gloom at all..its the reality of the situation..obviously we are all hoping for a win but its gonna be tough.