Friday, February 08, 2008

Leeds United (H) Preview...


Leeds are the visitors this weekend to Sixfields and they’ll be wanting to get back to winning ways after a shaky couple of weeks. The departure of Denis Wise to Newcastle proved enough to put them off their good form but new man in charge Gary McAllister will be trying to turn things around and get the club back into the playoff places.

Team News

Mark Little plays his final game of the loan spell from Wolves but that deal could be extended following the game. Giles Coke could come back into contention after missing the Swindon game last week while Adebayo Akinfenwa will be pushing for a starting place after scoring at The County Ground and then again in the reserves’ 2-2 draw at Colchester on Tuesday.

Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren is available again for the trip to Sixfields after recovering from a hip injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at Luton a couple of weeks ago. Meanwhile defender Rui Marques returns from international duty with Angola in the African Cup of Nations. Elsewhere, Neil Kilkenny and Frazer Richardson are struggling to be fit as Leeds visit Sixfields for the first time ever.


The Story So Far…Leeds United in 2007/08….

After a fifteen point points deduction before they even kicked a ball, Leeds were up against it from the off but have incredibly fought back to occupy a playoff place by the half way mark in the season.United stormed out of the blocks and won their opening seven League One games including a last gasp win at Nottingham Forest as the prolific Jermaine Beckford scored in the 89th minute to give them a City Ground win. The 100% start to the season was ended with a 1-1 draw at Gillingham but at least they were back onto plus points by mid September.At the start of October, Leeds beat Oldham 1-0 to continue their unbeaten run of form as Ian Westlake scored in stoppage time to seal the win.


Another late winner, this time from Mark de Vries saw off Yeovil just four days later before Leyton Orient became only the second team to take points off them with a 1-1 draw at Elland Road. The month ended with victories over Brighton (1-0) and Millwall (4-2) and the club was in a good position going into November.


November began with Leeds’ first defeat of the season as they were beaten at Carlisle. Beckford put Leeds in front in the first half but goals from Simon Hackney, Joe Garner and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson sent them crashing to their first loss of the campaign. Bouncing back a week later with a 3-1 win at Bournemouth, they then went on to see off Swindon 2-1. The month ended with a surprise 1-0 defeat at strugglers Cheltenham Town.


As the winter set in through December, Leeds took seven points from their opening three games of the month, with wins over Port Vale and Huddersfield followed by a 1-1 draw at Walsall. A single Jonathon Howson goal late in the day was enough to see off Bristol Rovers before they left it late again on Boxing Day to draw at Hartlepool United. 2007 ended with a 3-2 reverse at fellow promotion chasers Swansea before a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Oldham began 2008.

The Cobblers were the victims of the club’s brief tun in fortunes in early January as goals from Frzer Richardson, Rui Marques and Curtis Weson eased them past Stuart Gray’s men. Next up was a 1-0 win at Crewe as Bradley Johnson made his debut and Jermaine Beckford headed home the winner live on Sky Sports. There followed a 1-0 home defeat to fellow promotion chasers Doncaster Rovers before a 1-1 draw at Luton.

Last time out…

In Gary McAllister’s first game in charge of the club last weekend, Leeds were beaten at home by Tranmere Rovers to knock them out of the top six. Jennison Myrie-Williams gave Rovers the lead on the hour before Ian Moore sealed the win against one of his former clubs.


Recent Meetings…

05/01/08: LEEDS 3-0 COBBLERS

Frazer Richardson fires the home side in front just before the break with a good run and powerful finish before second half goals from Rui Marques and substitute Curtis Weston complete a comfortable victory at Elland Road.


For The Record…Cobblers v United…

Games Played: 5
Cobblers Wins: 1
Draws: 1Leeds Wins: 3

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