Leeds United have issues to fix if they are to walk away with all three points from the bet365 Stadium today. An away record of three wins in ten this season needs to be improved and they have not won at Stoke City since 2019. There are no good omens to be found in their Boxing Day record as well; Leeds have not won a game on this marquee day of the football calendar for a while. They have to overcome significant odds today if they are to beat the Potters later today.
The Whites sit second in the Championship table and are one of the frontrunners for automatic promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.
Leeds should be beating a Stoke side who are 19th in the league table as the gap between the quality of the two teams is massive and their positions in the league table are a reflection of that.
However, there are serious questions about whether Leeds will walk away from Stoke with all three points in their bag and their poor away record is only one of the reasons for the doubts.
Leeds have won just three in ten on the road this season and as things stand, they are nowhere close to matching the away records of teams who recently got promoted to the Premier League from the Championship.
The Whites are aware that they need to fix their away record if they want to achieve automatic promotion but the bet365 Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the Yorkshire giants in recent years.
Leeds also have very little solace to take from their record on Boxing Day if they are looking for some positive signs ahead of taking on Stoke today.
No Boxing Day joy for Leeds United in six years
Boxing Day is a special date in the English football calendar with every team across the divisions in action on this day. Supporters flock to stadiums to watch their teams play after spending Christmas with their families.
However, Leeds United fans have had little joy on this day for a while as the Whites have been struggling in games on Boxing Day for a few years now.
Leeds won three Boxing Day fixtures on the bounce between 2016 and 2018 but since then, Leeds have not had a win on this marquee day.
Those three results are the only wins for Leeds in the last ten Boxing Day fixtures and if they beat Stoke today, it would be their first three points on this day in six years.
Leeds were beaten by Preston away from home last season and even Daniel Farke’s recent record on Boxing Day is poor as a manager.
The German has lost his last three on this day, including two defeats as Norwich City boss (in 2019 vs. Aston Villa and 2020 vs. Watford).
Stoke’s Boxing Day record must worry the Whites
While Leeds are scrambling to improve their record on Boxing Day, Stoke have a wonderful recent record on this marquee date of the English football calendar.
They have lost just one of their last eight league games on Boxing Day (won four and drawn three), losing 2-0 away at Birmingham City in 2018.
We have already elaborated on Stoke’s recent record against Leeds, which should give the home side the confidence to pull off a shock result today when the two sides meet at the bet365 Stadium.
Leeds have several factors to overcome to get a result at Stoke and their away form is a real worry this season. However, the Whites must back themselves to beat a Potters side who are expected to be in the fight to survive this season.
The Whites will hope their big players stand up on this big day and ensure that they pick up the three points to further burnish their credentials as top automatic promotion contenders.
