Leeds United have emerged as the favourites for automatic promotion following a festive period where a number of their challengers dropped several points. Other than the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Year’s Day, the Whites have been flawless during the Christmas period and have a three-point lead at the top of the Championship standings. They will go to the MKM Stadium on Saturday with the hope of winning their third away game on the trot and they must ensure three more points against Hull City.
The Yorkshire giants have looked like the real deal this season and are now looking at the best bet to get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the ongoing season.
Leeds addressed their away form during the festive period with two wins over Stoke City and Derby County respectively and they are continuing to find players who are chipping in with goals.
Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe are two of the players who have stepped up their game in recent weeks and captain Ethan Ampadu has returned looking better than ever despite being out for a couple of months with a knee injury.
With Sheffield United and Burnley stumbling during the festive period and Sunderland still looking like outsiders for automatic promotion, Leeds are looking comfortable at the top of the Championship table.
Both Sheffield United and Burnley have tough away games at Watford and Blackburn respectively this weekend and they could drop more points.
Leeds must ensure that they walk away with all three points from the MKM on Saturday, which means Daniel Farke should field his best eleven against Hull.
No squad rotation for Leeds United on Saturday
Leeds have just come out of a gruelling schedule and the team did look a bit tired and jaded in their 1-1 draw at home against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
We have argued that Farke didn’t rotate the squad enough and players such as Brenden Aaronson have been overplayed, especially during the festive period.
However, the Leeds boss must avoid rotating and tinkering with the team at the MKM on Saturday as they have a real chance to press home their advantage.
Hull have picked up some form but are still sitting 22nd in the league table and are prime contenders to get relegated to League One at the end of the season.
Leeds must back themselves to win a third away game on the trot and Farke must field his best eleven at the MKM Stadium this weekend.
The Whites must win all three points to ensure that they are in a position to take advantage of the situation if Sheffield United and Burnley drop more points this weekend.
There are question marks over Jayden Bogle and Sam Byram’s fitness but Farke hopes to have both of them fit for the trip to the MKM on Saturday.
Ethan Amapdu should come back into the starting eleven in place of Ao Tanaka and that should be the only change from the eleven that played on Wednesday unless there are injury disruptions.
Farke will have a chance to rest all his best players the weekend after when they will take on Harrowgate Town in the FA Cup at Elland Road.
Hull City won’t be pushovers
Hull sacked Tim Walter in November following a run of four straight defeats and nine games without a win. Ruben Selles was appointed as the new manager in December and results have seen an upturn.
They beat Swansea City at the MKM and Blackburn away from home in recent weeks and have looked like a better side under the new manager.
Hull’s problems this season have stemmed from the fact that they are struggling to score and along with Millwall, they have scored the least number of goals with just 22 in 25 games.
Their defence has done reasonably well and their defensive record should put them somewhere in midtable, and not in the relegation zone.
Hull will look to keep things tight at the back and hope to hit Leeds on the counter to pull off a shock result at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.
However, there is a vast difference between the two sides and Leeds should get a win if they play at their level against an average Hull team.
