Leeds United - v - Luton Town ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Leeds United v Luton Town
27th November 7:45pm | Elland Road

Luton Town are the visitors to Elland Road midweek as Leeds look to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship, going into the Christmas period. Along with Sunderland and Sheffield Utd, the Whites are averaging two points per game but lead the division by goal difference. They are joint second in the form guide (to Millwall), alongside Boro and Sheffield Utd on 13 points from the last six games.

Luton's win against Hull at the weekend relieved some pressure on Rob Edwards, and more importantly saw them climb to 16th in the table. They have leaked 26 goals this season so far; only Plymouth and Portsmouth have conceded more. Saturday's win was the fifth time this season Luton have kept a clean sheet. They will have to be on their 'A game' to keep out a Leeds side who have netted 28 times this campaign; only Boro have scored more (29).

The last time these two sides met was the 19/20 season Championship winning season. They drew at Elland Road, curtesy of a Stuart Dallas equaliser but won at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season with goals from Bamford, and a last minute Matty Pearson own goal doing the damage.

With Junior Firpo suspended, boss Daniel Farke may opt to hand a rare start to Max Wober rather than risk Sam Byram starting two matches in four days. Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell will continue to deputise for Messrs Ampadu and Gruev whilst Josuha Guilavogui should also pick up minutes. After his injury time winner, Wilfred Gnonto is pushing for a place in the starting line-up, though it's going to be difficult to dislodge either Solomon or James after their endeavours! Joel Piroe risks being dropped after a poor performance against his former club at the weekend.

Rob Edwards is likely to field a similar starting line-up from the side who beat Hull at the weekend, with Jordan Clark coming back from suspension to replace Shandon Baptiste who has picked up a knock being the only likely forced change.

MOT.

(Credit: motforum.com)

[Monaco_Totty]

Think Farke may tinker with wide players.

Given that Wober has been out for a while & only just returned to training following surgery then he will need to be eased back into the team carefully, so maybe Luton ideal if the ER pitch is ideal to risk him on ?
He was on the bench for Swansea but not risked for that games physical limb stretcher in dodgy conditions under foot.

Hope he plays as Max offers a defensive style which mitigates risk well, not flashy just solid cautious defending taking the initiative from an attacker but not that great as an attacking threat 'tho - but maybe decent as a corner target ?

So Soloman & Rothwell better be in sync together up & down the pitch if DF plays Wober as his 6'2 82kg bulk frame not ideal for a flying wing-back.
In fact his injury record is plagued with torn muscle fibre hernia issues & obviously his latest absence due to knee surgery I hear was to repair torn ligaments & then a further procedure to remove a cyst on his meniscus in Oct 24 is really gonna need managing well.

Rob Edwards team is one of the most aggressive at counter-pressing, stats say, but they are not materialising this skill into results this season & long may that continue.

The reality is that Luton struggles stem
by other teams having detected ways to create danger against them particuariy at set-pieces, stats state, usually their near post creates their woes too !

Lutons defence often neglect the near post when crosses are whipped across in.
Other teams have exploited this weakness by overloading the far post in the goal area, so that a late runner can appear at the near post to connect with the ball. Joseph ?

Luton usually play with a 5-3-2 or 5-2-1-2 structure with two holding mids alongside Chong as the 'connector' between the midfield & 2 strikers.

Chong is crucial for Luton both defensively & offensively, stats state, as being their advanced mid with freedom to move where he wants, usually drifts to the left between the lines so we need to watch him for sure, particularly whoever Farke plays at left-back as he has a strong physique to impose upon a game & sniff gaps out when on the ball.

Stop him & we can become very creative, imo.👍

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Heard something somewhere that at this stage last season we only had 31 points but Ipswich were 4 points ahead and Leicester further still.

[BelfastAndy]

Anybody in?

[WTF11]

So, the players ARE allowed to shoot, as long as they are in the 6 yard box! ell done Sam, bit fortunate but well taken nonetheless!

[CalverleyBoy]

Anybody in?

I?m here darling sat outside a bar in Tenerife on a lovely evening. Nice start.

[WTF11]

Seems like that corner we scored from the other week was a bit of a flash in the pan!

[WTF11]

Seems like that corner we scored from the other week was a bit of a flash in the pan!

Or maybe not! And Piroe as well!

[Monaco_Totty]

Anybody in?

🤗 Kinda in - but with eyes on incoming mail & ears ready for ringing phones & score updates via text from mates. 👍

[Orgoner]

Nice goals. Good timing too.