On paper…it just doesn’t work like that. Burton Albion need a win, Leeds United need a win. Garry Monk and his men aren’t in good form at the moment but have got their destiny in their own hands. Three wins and Leeds will make the play-offs, anything less and we might not.
The incentive is there and if we can’t get up for a game like today then we are in trouble. Burton will be a tough test for the side and we need to be putting the maximum effort and attempt at football on the park from the very off. Ronaldo Vieira returns after illness and starts alongside Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park. Liam Bridcutt drops from the squad as Eunan O’Kane stays on the bench. Souleymane Doukara starts from the left in place of Alfonso Pedraza and Gaetano Berardi is dropped to the bench, Charlie Taylor starting at left-back. In another change Marcus Antonsson returns to the squad as an option from the bench. The Swede hasn’t played a minute of league football in months, hasn’t had a great season but a goal off the bench in a game like this could put all of that firmly into history.
Burton are a solid team and will be looking for Akins and Sordell to cause the problems in the final third. The pair haven’t scored many goals but are a handful for defenders. Jansson and Bartley will be key today but just as key will be the full backs who will need to contain Lloyd Dyer. The winger has been in very good form recently as Burton look to steer themselves away from danger, danger which they are very much still in the thick of. Jackson Irvine is probably one of the buys of the season, the central midfielder has scored some crucial goals for the Brewers this season and adds some steel to the middle of the park. Phillips and Vieira will have to be wary of his runs from deep as the game goes on.
One To Watch – Jackson Irvine – Signed from Ross County in the summer for a record fee the Australian has been a huge success and has been the go-to-guy for Nigel Clough this season.
Leeds XI
Green
Ayling Bartley Jansson Taylor
Phillips Vieira
Roofe Hernandez Doukara
Wood
