Leeds United are eyeing going back to the top of the Championship table tonight when they take on Sunderland at Elland Road. The Whites are now distinct favourites to earn automatic promotion and are even being touted to win the Championship this season. Leeds have two tough games lined up starting with Sunderland tonight and Daniel Farke will push his players to focus on the job at hand rather than allow promotion talk to go to their heads. The Black Cats are unbeaten in eight in the Championship and have won their last two away fixtures. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is right to be confident about his team but he is in for a rude shock if he believes his side can take Leeds in their own game at Elland Road.
Tonight’s fixture at Elland Road is set to be an exciting one as both sides are known for playing an exciting brand of football and no one is expecting it to be a boring game.
Farke won’t change his ways and Leeds’ ‘predictable’ brand of football is again expected to be laid out at home where they will expect to have territorial dominating and play on the front foot.
Leeds are the top scorers in the Championship but more importantly, in terms of scoring at home. they are head and shoulders above any other side in the league.
Sunderland have a solid away form and they are hoping to put pressure on Leeds at Elland Road tonight but Regis Le Bris’ side will need to ensure that they don’t end up at the end of a spanking like Cardiff City.
Regis Le Bris wants to ‘damage’ the formidable Leeds United defence tonight
Leeds’ defence was a worry in the early part of the season but they have tightened up so well that they have now the second-best defensive record in the league.
In recent form, they might have the best defence in the league and have not conceded a goal in their last six Championship games.
Sunderland have lost ground in the automatic promotion race and they need to win at Elland Road to close the gap with the top two. Even a draw won’t be good enough to keep them in the race.
Le Bris is aware that his team need to win tonight but conceded that his side can’t be naive against a Leeds side who are scoring goals for fun at home.
The Sunderland boss insisted that his team cannot allow Leeds to take control of the game and dictate terms. He stressed the Black Cats need to get at the Leeds defence and be positive at Elland Road.
“We have to focus on our game. We know their threat and how dangerous they can be – if we are naive, we can be punished”, Le Bris told reporters.
“We have good qualities to play against these types of opponents – we can’t afford to let them play. If we don’t damage their defence, we will have many regrets in the end.”
“They are a well-rounded team who are doing very well – it’s more a positive challenge than something we have to be afraid of.”
Regis Le Bris is in for a rude awakening at Elland Road
Sunderland are a solid side and will be one of the favourites to get promoted through the playoffs at the end of the season. They are not as good as the current top two but far better than the rest.
They are in good form at the moment and are expected to give Leeds a tough game at Elland Road tonight but there is no doubt that the Whites are the favourites to win.
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Even the worst of Leeds baiters have acknowledged that the Whites are ‘inevitable’ at home and Sunderland will struggle to get anything out of the game.
The Black Cats have promised that they will stick to their attacking philosophy but Leeds could cut through them like a hot knife through butter if they try to take them in their own game.
It is good that Le Bris and his side are coming to Elland Road with a positive mindset but they can’t hope to go toe-to-toe with Leeds.
