Leeds United have been poor on the road this season with just three wins in their ten away games in the Championship. The Whites will hope to start fixing their form on the road with their trip to Stoke City on Boxing Day. However, their recent record at the bet365 Stadium is awful and they need to reverse their fortunes at Stoke if they are to get a result a day after Christmas this week.
The Whites beat Oxford United 4-0 last weekend to stay second in the Championship table and they are one of the top contenders for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
However, Leeds’ away form is worrying ahead of a run of games where they will be on the road for three of their next four Championship fixtures.
Leeds are set to travel to the bet365 Stadium to take on Stoke City on Boxing Day and will again be on the road on 29th December when they will face Derby County at Pride Park.
The Whites have a home game against Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day before again travelling for an away game against Hull City on 4th January.
We have argued that this is a great chance for Leeds to fix their away-day woes and Leeds should be beating Stoke City who are lying 19th in the Championship standings, just four points ahead of the relegation zone.
However, Leeds do not have happy memories of trips to the bet365 Stadium and Stoke must fancy getting a result at home against the Whites who are suspect away from home.
Leeds United have not won at Stoke in five years and their Boxing Day record is worse
Leeds’ away form has already kept their fans up all night but their record at the bet365 Stadium should make them even more worried during Christmas.
On paper, the Whites should be beating them but Stoke have a strong record at home against Leeds and will back themselves to get a result on Boxing Day.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side best Stoke 3-0 at the bet365 Stadium in 2019 but the Potters have won their last three home games against the Yorkshire giants.
The omens for Leeds do get worse as Stoke have a great record on Boxing Day over the years. 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.
The bad news does not end here as Leeds’ record on Boxing Day is nothing to write home about. The Whites have won three of their last 10 Boxing Day matches (drawn three and lost four), winning those in three consecutive years between 2016 and 2018.
However, there is some respite for the away side as they have a good recent record against Stoke. Leeds have won three of their last four games against the Potters, winning 3-0 and 5-0 in 2019/20 and a 1-0 win at home in March earlier this year.
The Whites must back themselves to get a result at Stoke City
Leeds United need to improve their away record as they cannot depend just on their home record for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.
A trip to Stoke will test the Leeds players as they do not have recent happy memories at the bet365 Stadium but they need to beat teams like the Potters if they are to get promoted.
Leeds often look a very different team on the road and the kind of spark they show in their football at home often goes missing in these games.
The Leeds forwards need to step up to the plate and ensure that they walk away from the bet365 Stadium with three points for the first time in five years.
Daniel Farke must not shy away from tweaking his tactics and his team to fix their record on the road and get a crucial win at Stoke on Boxing Day.
Leeds have to fight their recent history and their Boxing Day woes and show character to get a win at Stoke this week.
