Blackburn Rovers - v - Leeds United *** Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

IMAGE SITE FECKD TONIGHT.....

Leeds head to Ewood Park on Saturday lunchtime hoping to create distance (temporarily at-least) between themselves and the Championship chasing pack.

The game was initially due to kick-off at 3pm, but was moved to 1.30 on Police advice. Rovers have always been generous with their away allocation, with 7,500 Whites fans expected to travel. Risk of depleting Ale supplies in Lancashire are thought to be a contributing factor.

Leeds only new injury worry is Sam Byram, who underwent tests yesterday to assess an ankle injury he sustained during the team?s 3-0 home victory against Luton Town on Wednesday evening. Fortunately, Junior Firpo is back from suspension, and with 30 minutes under his belt, Max Wober is well on his way to full fitness.

Largie Ramazzani is on the mend too, after the ankle injury sustained in the 2-1 win over Watford last month. The 23yo made a late appearance midweek, and will no doubt be eased back into action gradually, after five weeks out.

Dan James could be recalled to the starting line-up after scoring late-on against the Hatters, though that would mean dropping Wilfred Gnonto. Similarly Joel Piroe's seventh of the season should guarantee his place in the starting XI. Tanaka and Rothwell will continue to deputise for Gruev and Ampadu.

John Eustace is likely to field the same starting XI that beat Boro at the Riverside on Wednesday evening. Injuries to Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, Arnor Sigurdsson, and top goal scorer Andreas Weimann (5 goals) leave Eustace with limited options.

MOT.

(CREDIT: motforum.com)

[Monaco_Totty]

Difficult to determine how Rovers will set up for games at home as they've found a different way to win on home soil this term via some gutsy gritty victories with Eustace instilling some well drilled adaptable basic tactics showing they?re ready for whatever tactical match or player they?re pitted against. 🙁

So its important for us to get the right balance for this game quickly as we?ve now come up against three very savvy tactical teams in the last away games at Bristol, Millwall & Swansea getting a draw, loss & one win, so we really have to be 'on our game' now for our continued points haul with an eye on goal difference too.

Blackburn stats are persistent 'tho with their preference to play out from the back, particularly at home.
However, they may vary their tactics against us as both their strikers Arnor Sigurdsson & joint top scorer Andreas Weimann are now ruled out so dunno who will fill their void but they do rely on Todd Cantwell, who is often involved heavily in creating their chances, stats state.

So Rovers performance currently places them at 8th out of 24 teams in the Championship, winning 44% of matches & they defo put the brakes on free-scoring Boro mid-week to win a hard fought contest via a late goal from the defender Hyam.
There home form is 5 wins, 1 draw & 2 losses whilst their away form has 'em 2 wins, 3 draws & 3 losses.

Eustace I'd expect will play with caution with his familiar & trusted set-ups.
Out of possession - Rovers use a 4-2-3-1 shape.
In possession - Rovers use a 3-4-2-1 shape. Their left-back, Harry Pickering, becomes a third center-back. The right-back, Callum Brittain, moves to a wing-back role. The left-winger, Ryan Hedges, does the same on the opposite flank. The right-winger moves centrally to become a second number 10.
When Rovers lose the ball, they always revert to the 4-2-3-1 shape like clockwork.

Suspect DF will be looking for swift forward movement from us on the turnover with the emphasis on our two in midfield, again finding our runners in the spaces to exploit on the counter. 👍

Oh, DF averaging 1.97 points per game, the best by any Championship manager in 20 years & we've faced the fewest shots of any club in the opening 17 games of a Championship season (113) since Opta started recording data in 2013.

Three points please, whether boring, practical or efficient.

[alfinyalcabo]

Come on Basturds..😎

[BelfastAndy]

[BelfastAndy]

Very lucky not to be behind. Need to wake up.

[BelfastAndy]

Very poor

[cherrypie7]

Very poor

We are not good away from Elland Road

[spaldy]

Has aaronson ever won a challenge or been hit without falling down?

Can?t they work on his strength and balance

[BelfastAndy]

Gnonto and Piroe should have scored due to the two errors by them.

[BelfastAndy]

Aaronson isn't great at all. Lightweight