Newcase United- v - Leeds United *** Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Fit-again goalkeeper Karl Darlow returned to Newcastle's matchday squad last weekend and could replace Freddie Woodman in the starting line-up.

Ryan Fraser is back in contention following an ankle injury but this game comes too soon for Callum Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett.

Pascal Struijk begins a three-match ban after Leeds lost an appeal against his red card versus Liverpool.

Fellow centre-backs Diego Llorente and Robin Koch remain injured.

Adam Forshaw is also sidelined but striker Patrick Bamford is fit despite speculation he suffered a hamstring problem at the weekend.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Leeds are vying to win three consecutive league games against Newcastle for the first time since 1967, while they last recorded back-to-back away league victories against the Magpies in 1958.

Newcastle's 2-0 home defeat by Leeds in 2002 is the only one of the last 15 league meetings in which they have failed to score.

Newcastle United

Newcastle have equalled their worst start to a Premier League campaign. This is the sixth time they have taken one point from their opening four matches.

Steve Bruce's side have conceded 12 league goals this season, more than any other side in the division.Their expected goals against figure of 10.5 is also a league high.

The Magpies have kept just four top-flight clean sheets in 2021, with three of those coming against the sides who were relegated at the end of 2020-21.

Bruce has won one of his last nine matches as a manager against Leeds, losing five of those fixtures.Newcastle have only won two of their 13 Premier League games without Callum Wilson since he joined the club a year ago.

Leeds United

Leeds have failed to win any of their opening four top-flight matches for the first time since 1958.

They have not begun a top-flight season with a five-game winless streak since 1946, while they have never gone five league matches without a victory under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Whites and Norwich are the only two clubs yet to lead in a Premier League game in 2021-22.The Yorkshire club have conceded 13 league goals following corners since winning promotion last year, more than any other side.

Five of the 11 goals they have conceded this season have been scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

2 - 2.

MOT.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

C’mon Leeds - Rapha - Rapha will tear em apart, again! (To provide a little joy (division) to us all)

[Rev72]

C’mon Leeds - Rapha - Rapha will tear em apart, again! (To provide a little joy (division) to us all)

Just hope we enjoy the 'Atmosphere'

[Rev72]

Ayling to partner Cooper in defence I reckon should be fun!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Ayling to partner Cooper in defence I reckon should be fun!

We must be getting Closer to a win as we have more Substance than then - their team plays like a Factory Record.

[Rev72]

We must be getting Closer to a win as we have more Substance than then - their team plays like a Factory Record.

We need some Leaders of Men out there tonight and hopefully no Disorder in the team.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

We need some Leaders of Men out there tonight and hopefully no Disorder in the team.

No Love Lost between us and Steve Bruce but let’s Passover that and hope in Twenty Four Hours we are having a winning Ceremony.

[WTF11]

We must be getting Closer to a win as we have more Substance than then - their team plays like a Factory Record.

Nonsense. If you watched them play against Scum it was like watching us in the same fixture last season. They may have lost but they played great football, and could argue that they were unlucky not to finish even (or perhaps unlucky to come up against Scum playing Ronaldo!). We underestimate at our peril.

[Tichi1]

Couldn't make it up

Harrison is out with Covid, and Raph is now a doubt - toook a knock last weekend!!

My prediction -

Meslier
Shackleton, Ayling, Cooper, Firpo
Philips,Klitch, Dallas, Rodrigo
James, Bamford

Looks pretty solid on paper - apart from the lightweight cobbled together central defence!!

[cherrypie7]

Couldn't make it up

Harrison is out with Covid, and Raph is now a doubt - toook a knock last weekend!!

My prediction -

Meslier
Shackleton, Ayling, Cooper, Firpo
Philips,Klitch, Dallas, Rodrigo
James, Bamford

Looks pretty solid on paper - apart from the lightweight cobbled together central defence!!

If Raphinha is out then I think its time for Summerville. So if rapha is out my guess would be:

Meslier
Ayling, Cooper, Cresswell, Firpo
Phillips, Rodrigo, Dallas,
James, Summerville, Bamdoor

Marcelo Bielsa actually stated (unprompted), that he was considering Cresswell tonight. Other changes to the lineup are also forced.
We shall see.