By Jack Douglas (@JDouglasSport)
First welcomes second this weekend to Elland Road in a top of the table clash that sees Leeds United play host to Steve Cooper’s Swansea City.
The Welsh side have arguably been the Championship’s surprise package so far, as they have started the post Dan James and Ollie McBurnie era in fine form.
The Swans come to the party with a near-identical record with Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites; level on points and with a goal difference inferior by one.
United, buoyed by the return of skipper Liam Cooper, head into the game after bowing out of the League Cup on penalties to Stoke City; days after putting three past the Potters on their own turf in the league.
If Leeds’ start under Bielsa was exciting last season, the attacking play this term has been devastatingly scary for opposition defences.
Whilst ten goals in five games may not appear too out of the ordinary, the intensity of United’s press and amount of chances created under El Loco this season has been a level above the Argentine’s debut foray into the English game.
In Pablo Hernandez, the league leaders have the most creative player in the league bar none, whilst Patrick Bamford has hit the ground running with Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah hot on the ex-Chelsea man’s heels.
The stand-out player for many Leeds fans this time though has been 21-year-old Ben White. Having huge shoes to fill in that of cult-hero Pontus Jansson, the Brighton loanee has looked assured and confident in a defence that has kept three clean sheets in five league games.
Borja Bastón is the one to watch for the visitors; the Atlético Madrid academy product has hit five so far this term – one more than Bamford and is the league’s top marksman.
The Swans hit League 2 side Cambridge United for six on Wednesday night in a mightily impressive performance, as Bournemouth loanee Sam Surridge netted a double at the Liberty Stadium.
Leeds are set to have a fully fit squad, bar long-term absentees Tyler Roberts and Luke Ayling, but Marcelo Bielsa is wary of the threat the visitors will offer.
“Swansea City are showing a good level, they have a very clear idea on how to play. They are a solid team; they know how to defend and attack,” he told club media.
If Leeds’ trio of Kalvin Phillips, Adam Forshaw and Poland international Mateusz Klich can stamp their authority on the game and dominate the midfield then the home side have enough to beat anyone in the division; but they will need to watch Bastón and contain former Man City starlet Bersant Celina.
Out of the twenty meetings at Elland Road between the two clubs, Leeds have won 16 with the last ten meetings in LS11 all going the way of the Whites.
Swansea’s one and only win came way back in September of 1949. Can they repeat that feat 70 years on?
Behind Closed Doors’ prediction: Leeds United 3-1 Swansea City
By Jack Douglas (@JDouglasSport)
BehindClosedDoors 