Leeds United welcome promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion to Elland Road on Tuesday night knowing that a return to winning ways sooner rather than later is needed if they are to maintain their status as Championship favourites.
Marcelo Bielsa's side missed the chance to move top of the table in their 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic on Saturday, leaving Tuesday's opponents at the summit following their win at Queens Park Rangers.
Match preview
© Reuters
After an encouraging start to the season which saw them pick up 13 points from the first 15 on offer in the Championship, Leeds' form has tailed off dramatically in recent weeks.
A 2-0 Yorkshire derby triumph at Barnsley is their only win in their last five outings across all competitions, and their last two home games have seen them concede late goals - losing against Swansea City in a top-of-the-table clash and then drawing with Derby County.
Despite those setbacks a victory on Saturday would have been enough for Leeds to regain top spot from the Baggies, but Lee Bowyer got one over on his former club with a 1-0 win at The Valley.
Leeds will look back on that match with a certain degree of frustration having boasted 72% possession and 19 shots, one of which drew a fine stoppage-time save from Charlton keeper Dillon Phillips.
Ultimately there was a lack of cutting edge where it mattered for the promotion favourites, though, and that will be a concern as they bid to avoid successive league defeats for the first time since April.
Another major worry for Bielsa will be his side's form at Elland Road, where Leeds have won just once in their last eight outings. Twelve of their 17 points this season have come on the road, and only four teams have picked up fewer points in front of their own fans.
© Reuters
It is perhaps not an ideal time to be coming up against a team with the second-best away record in the league, then, with only Leeds themselves having accrued more points on their travels than West Brom so far.
The Baggies were 2-0 winners at QPR on Saturday to climb to the top of the table, a position they were able to hold on to courtesy of slip-ups for Leeds and Swansea.
Slaven Bilic's side remain unbeaten in their nine Championship outings so far this season, although perhaps the most pleasing aspect of their latest win was the clean sheet - their first in 13 league games.
If they can stiffen things up at the back on a more regular basis then they must be regarded as serious candidates for promotion this season, having scored a joint league-high 17 goals so far.
Indeed, Monday's match promises to be an intriguing battle between the league's best attack and best defence, with Leeds conceding just five goals this term despite their recent poor form, and never more than once in a game.
Leeds form: WLLWDL
West Brom form: DDWDWW
Team News
© Reuters
Bielsa may shuffle his pack slightly for this match as he looks to keep his squad fresh, and that could mean a first league start for Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah up front.
The 20-year-old was one of two half-time changes made by Bielsa at The Valley and could lead the line ahead of Patrick Bamford, who remains the manager's preferred choice up front.
Adam Forshaw, who was the other player to come on at half time, could also come into the starting lineup while Helder Costa will be hopeful of keeping his place after making his first league start at the weekend.
Pablo Hernandez is again likely to miss out with a muscle problem, but Luke Ayling and Tyler Roberts are now back available following injuries.
West Brom will still be without experienced midfielder Gareth Barry, although he is now in the final stages of his recovery from a long-term knee injury and should return next month.
Kieran Gibbs was back on the bench against QPR but may have to settle for that role again given Nathan Ferguson's goalscoring performance, while Ahmed Hegazi and Conor Townsend are back in training after injuries of their own.
Leeds possible starting lineup:
Casilla; Dallas, White, Cooper, Alioski; Costa, Forshaw, Phillips, Klich, Harrison; Nketiah
West Brom possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Ferguson; Livermore, Sawyers; Phillips, Matheus, Diangana; Austin
We say: Leeds 1-1 West Brom
Leeds need to get back to winning ways soon, but Tuesday's match sees them come up against an in-form West Brom side capable of causing their solid defence problems. The hosts' run of results is perhaps an unfair reflection of the way they have actually been playing in those games, but we can see their wait for a win prolonged by one more match in midweek.
Barney Corkhill
