Leeds United fans hoping for a new leaf under owner Massimo Cellino have so far been disappointed as troubles on and off the field continue to plague the club.

A new manager has already come and gone after just six matches in all competitions this season, with Dave Hockaday having his contract terminated by the club on Thursday.

A midweek defeat to Yorkshire rivals Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup proved to be the final straw for Cellino, whose initial appointment of Hockaday had raised plenty of eyebrows itself.

In truth, the news of Hockaday's sacking was not the most surprising given the bizarre events that followed Leeds's capitulation at Watford last weekend.

Cellino had decided to get rid of Hockaday following the defeat, only to make a sensational U-turn and give the new boss his backing once again.

That unconvincing vote of confidence lasted less than a week, however, as Leeds now find themselves without a manager once again, with Neil Redfearn due to take the reins for this weekend's match against Bolton Wanderers.

The hosts go into the game hovering just above the relegation zone having lost three of their opening four outings, while their solitary victory was also graced with a large slice of luck.

Hockaday's short-lived spell at this level was certainly not helped by his side's ill discipline on the field, with Leeds having had four men sent off in their six outings this season.

As a result, Luke Murphy, Sam Byram and Giuseppe Bellusci are all suspended for this weekend's match, although Gaetano Berardi is available once more having served his ban.

Souleymane Doukara remains sidelined with injury, meaning that Billy Sharp and Matt Smith are likely to start up front together again.

Caretaker boss Redfearn could hand a debut to Casper Sloth in midfield after he completed his move to the club earlier this week.

There has been less turmoil behind the scenes at Bolton, but matters on the pitch are not too much better for the Trotters.

They are the other side of the dotted line from Leeds having only managed to pick up one point from their opening four games of the season.

However, that point did come against the current league leaders Nottingham Forest, and Dougie Freedman will be hopeful that his side can conjure up a similar display to take advantage of a troubled Leeds outfit this weekend.

They do come into this match on the back of a victory having squeezed past Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday, although they did need extra time to win a dramatic match.

Jermaine Beckford may have played himself into a start against his former club having scored twice in that game, although Freedman must choose between him, Craig Davies and Joe Mason to fill the two places up front.

The Bolton manager could also be forced into making a change between the sticks after Adam Bogdan was forced off through injury last weekend.

Recent form

Leeds: LWWLLL

Bolton: LWDLLW

Possible starting lineups

Leeds: Silvestri; Wootton, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock; Austin, Sloth, Bianchi, Tonge; Sharp, Smith

Bolton: Lonergan; White, Mills, Wheater, Ream; Lee, Spearing, Kamara, Danns; Davies, Beckford

Sports Mole says: 2-1

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