[themaclad]

Leeds United
Deepdale 14/12/2024 12.30pm

Can see a Jurgen Klopp rant if it had been Liverpool, Leeds play Tuesday night, we have an away game in Wales which due to the joys of the Motorway system suggest team would not have got home before 4 am. Hey television money though.

https://www.leedsunited.com/en

HEAD HONCHO



LAST TIME OUT



Leeds: Meslier, Byram (Ampadu 85'), Rodon, Struijk, Wöber, Tanaka, Rothwell (Guilavogui 94'), James (Schmidt 94'), Aaronson, Gnonto (Piroe 69'), Joseph (Solomon 69')

Subs: Ampadu, Bamford, Piroe, Solomon, Ramazani, Guilavogui, Darlow, Schmidt, Crew

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The Fitness Test
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Having played on Wednesday night against Cardiff, it's been a quick turnaround for North End.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden came off after taking a knock in that match, but Paul Heckingbottom expects he'll be okay.

The boss is also hoping to have Andrew Hughes available for selection again, after the defender missed the trip home to Cardiff through injury.

The Whites


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After ending the 2023/24 season in disappointment at Wembley, with Southampton taking the final Premier League spot, Daniel Farke regathered his troops and they’ve hit the ground running in the first half of the current campaign.

Averaging more than two points per game, they’re well and truly living up to the pre-season expectations of being one of the favourites for promotion, and they’ll be hoping to hold on to an automatic spot so they don’t need to go back through the Play-Offs.

The Whites have been free-scoring so far this season, netting 36 goals in 20 matches, and 11 clean sheets at the other end has helped their cause, too.

The Officials

Referee: John Busby
Assistant Referees: Mark Russell and Bhupinder Singh Gill
Fourth Official: Will Finnie

Heck

Having played on Wednesday night, Paul Heckingbottom is looking to make sure he can get as much energy out of his North End side as possible when Leeds United come to Deepdale this Saturday.

PNE were in South Wales during the week, where they managed to pick up their first away league victory of the campaign, and it’s been a quick turnaround to switch the focus to high-flying Leeds.

Daniel Farke’s team arrive in Lancashire sat in an automatic promotion spot and they have a chance to go top, at least for a few hours.

Hecky said: “One thing I don't agree with is these split weeks and it gives massive advantage to some teams. Because of the cup that we went in as well with the Arsenal game, things like that we seem to have been on the wrong end of them, and ultimately it is more of a problem for us than them.

“However, we're getting used to dealing with those. We're going to have to look at the squad and not necessarily freshen it up from the 11, although that will be a concern, but make sure we get as much energy as possible throughout the 90 minutes from the 11 that's on there.

Farke

Leeds United face Preston North End away from home in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend, with more than 5,000 supporters set to follow the Whites to Lancashire.

Both teams come into the game on the back of midweek victories. Daniel Farke’s side dispatched of Middlesbrough at home, whilst PNE made the long trip back from Cardiff City with three important points.

Speaking ahead of the lunchtime kick-off this weekend, the boss gave his thoughts to the media, beginning with an update on team news.

“There are several players after the last game with some injuries, some knocks, some question marks.

“Max Wober, for example, it was a busy week for him because it was the first time in the starting lineup since ages. His knee was also a bit swollen after the last game, it has settled down, so I hope he's capable of training today.

“I hope he is available, but a late decision with Sam Byram. He just came back after injury, had some cramps in the end. It has settled down, looks much better. I hope he's available but we have to wait for the training session.

“Same as Jayden Bogle, he's improved, so perhaps he's also in contention. We'll have more or less a session today as a test if he's available, and we can go through.

"There are many players with knocks and little hits, so for many of them it's a test today, and then afterwards we will take the decision on who travels with us to Preston, who is also in the starting lineup.”

On the game itself, Farke knows it will be another tough test for his side again an experience PNE side, who have proven difficult to beat lately.

“it's always a difficult place to go, Preston. I've played there so many times in my Championship life and it was always difficult, always competitive games, never easy,” the manager explained.

“They have a pretty experienced manager on this level with Paul [Heckingbottom], who knows this league inside out, with good players, always they play with fighting spirit and competitiveness.

“Yes, before their last game you would have spoken about, okay, they draw many games.

“Meanwhile, after an impressive away win, I have to say, you speak about they have five games unbeaten and will also play with lots of confidence.

“So it's always tight against them, and each game on this level is difficult, and especially in the away game at Preston during a pretty busy period, we know exactly what is coming.”

MACS VIEW

United having an extra days rest plus probably not getting home until 4am on Thursday may give them an advantage but we tend to play better against the top sides, could be a good game

[themaclad]

Preston North End 1 Potts Leeds United 1 Whatmough



Attendance: 19,508 (5,676 Leeds fans).

Referee: Mr J Busby.

Would have settled for a point before hand but having seen their scabby eualiser in the 93rd minute was disappointing but another game undefeated think that's seven 6 draws and 1 win.
Took a while for this game to get into it's stride, Leeds dominated the early stages but they couldn't get past the well organised North End defence, early on we played on the break, although glimpses of their goal were rare. James was dangerous down the wing and Rothwell also impressed.
We took the lead halfway through the half, defended another Leeeds attack, Lindsay winning the ball onto Potts and then onto Osmajic whoturned his defender brilliantly advanced on goal, inh perfect pass and Potts shinned it passed Meslier who really should have done better
As expected Leeds immediately retailiated AAronson missed a sitter, but like most of the half they tried and failed to work openings, although the main talking point came late on in the half Whiteman brought down an attacker on the edge of the box, he had already been booked, but of an exchange of views between tye players and the bences had a bit of a set too as well. Personal view didn't think it was a fould, Whiteman looked to have got the ball, Leeds thought otherwise, not to matter they wasted the free kick.
Whiteman hooked at half time big Thor came on, again persoonal view we are a better team when he plays, range of passing is top notch.
Very similar to the first half slight difference they were creating some decent chances, Piroe tame shot, James got to the six yaed box fired the ball across the six yard box with not a single taker in a yellow shirt, we had a couple of decent breaks caused some problems but we needed a second which didn't arrive. Last ten minutes they were camped in our haf and then in the the third minute of injury time, James into the box, ball across face of the box, Joseph muffed his shot ball hit Whatmough and in it went, they did deserve it and they were still after a winner when el officio blew his whistle

Heck

Paul Heckingbottom was “really proud” of his side’s performance against Leeds United and admitted it hurt to have to settle for a point.

Preston North End took the lead through Brad Potts, who converted a brilliant Milutin Osmajić cross in the 23rd minute, and it looked as though the Lilywhites had done enough to seal back-to-back wins.

The visitors snatched a point right at the death, though, as an own goal in the third minute of stoppage-time meant the game finished 1-1.



Hecky said: “I’m really proud. This point doesn't feel as bad as when we've taken points before. You can pick any out of West Brom or Sheffield Wednesday or Plymouth.

“I know Leeds are a very good side, and they threw everything at us. It just hurts because of the nature of the goal and I felt the way that we defended, it would have taken something like that, a bit of misfortune, for them to get it and for it to come so late, that's why it hurts.

“We did everything right. They're good with the ball but anything they put in the box our defenders dealt with and protected Freddie [Woodman] really well.

“The shots that came in were from 25 yards plus. Then there’s just that one moment. If [Mateo] Joseph makes contact, he doesn't score. The fact is he's missed the ball and then it's cannoned off Jack's back leg in the 93rd minute. It's really frustrating.”

It was a goal of real quality which saw North End take the lead, as Osmajić did really well to charge down the right-hand side, before crossing in for Potts, who had ran almost the entire length of the pitch to make the box.


He finished off on the end of the Montenegrin’s ball in and his strike led to huge celebrations inside Deepdale.

Hecky said: “The difference is a real pass. We do that in every game. Think how many times, I could pick on a game in particular – Plymouth away. We did that about 15 times and probably only got a shot three times, because of the final pass. The final pass matters.

“We've got a great group. We're getting a lot of things right. For us to be at the very top, we need those moments of quality more often at the top of the pitch.

“For players to go on and be at the very top, they can go on themselves if they produce those moments. It's also something that we want to stress all the time.

“I expected us to win. I really fancied us, but I said to do that we have to make sure that you get the credit for the work. I knew we'd work hard. I knew how we were going to play but then get the plaudits. If you track the run back, make sure you get the plaudits to tackle or block or win the header. If you make the run forward, make sure that you get the plaudits for the assist or the goal and it is those things decide games.”

Leeds manager Daniel Farke:

"If you can't win it then you have to make sure you don't lose it.

"When you see the story of the game, we didn't start that well until the final 20 minutes or whatever as we tried to push for the equaliser. They were defending really well.

"To score the goal in added time, also in this way, after we took so much risk and made so many changes in the game feels like a valuable and priceless point, especially in an away game.

"It's a good point on the board in a tough place. I think Preston defended really well."

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