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Attendance: 35,731
Leeds logo
Championship | Gameweek 12
Oct 19, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

1-0

Phillips (65')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Leeds United vs. Birmingham City - predictions, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between Leeds United and Birmingham City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Leeds United host Birmingham City at Elland Road as they look to reclaim their place at the top of the Championship following their 2-1 defeat to Millwall last time out.

Birmingham fared rather better in their last game, beating Middlesbrough 2-1 late on thanks to an Odin Bailey strike.


Match Preview

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa on September 28, 2019© Reuters

Leeds United have dropped off after a sensational start to the season that saw them go unbeaten in their first five games, winning four of those.

However, Marcelo Bielsa's side have since lost three of their last six, each by a one-goal margin as a lack of clinical finishing plagues the team.

Leeds significantly out-shot their opposition in the 1-0 losses against both Swansea City and Charlton Athletic, and had the lion's share of possession in all three defeats.

There have been calls from many of the Leeds faithful to include on-loan Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah over the misfiring Patrick Bamford, who has failed to score a goal since August despite retaining his spot as first-choice centre-forward.

Nketiah, on the other hand, has managed four goals and an assist despite playing just 329 minutes across all competitions, an impressive record of a goal or assist every 65.8 minutes.

Birmingham have had a very mixed campaign, winning as many games as they have lost - five - to sit comfortably mid-table in 12th.

Caretaker head coach Pep Clotet's victory over Middlesbrough ended a run of three consecutive defeats and steadied the ship somewhat.

Leeds United form: LWDLWL
Birmingham City form: WWLLLW


Team News

Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring for Leeds United on September 15, 2019© Reuters

Bielsa lost Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton to injury during their 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion and both remain sidelined for this clash.

However, Leeds could be boosted by the returns of Adam Forshaw and the talismanic Pablo Hernandez, whom Bielsa indicated were aiming to return after the international break.

Gaetano Berardi's red card against Millwall has been rescinded, meaning he will be able to partner Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Ben White at the heart of defence once more.

For Clotet, Jefferson Montero, Jonathan Grounds and Cheick Keita are still lacking in terms of fitness, while Maikel Kieftenbeld remains a long-term absentee.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the caretaker boss, however, and he will be able to name an unchanged team if he chooses.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Casilla; Ayling, White, Berardi, Alioski; Phillips, Costa, Klich, Dallas, Harrison; Bamford

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Camp; Colin, Roberts, Dean, Pedersen; Crowley, Sunjic, Bellingham, Villalba; Alvaro, Jutkiewicz


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Leeds United 2-1 Birmingham City

Leeds come into most Championship games as the favourites and this is no different. Bielsa's side were reduced to 10 men for most of the contest against Millwall and were narrowly beaten but with a full complement they should run out winners - although they can only seem to win by the odd goal.



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Fran Villalba in action for Birmingham City on August 31, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


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