Leeds United Jury: Next two fixtures offer Leeds the ideal opportunity to make amends

MATTHEW EVANS It has been a long two-week international break for Leeds United fans to dwell on the surprise 4-1 capitulation at West Bromwich Albion last time out for the Whites. And you have to hope it does not play on the minds of the players as we look to bounce straight back tomorrow afternoon at Elland Road against visitors from the South West. Bristol City are another side that will give us a tougher test than their position in the Championship standings would suggest. The Robins are in the bottom half of the table but have the potential to get within five points of United with a win on Saturday afternoon. More bad news on injuries does not set us up in the best way though. And losing both keepers and Pontus Jansson typifies the sort of luck we’ve had on that front since the start of the season. A packed Elland Road, fringe players giving their all for an opportunity for a run in the first team and the bounce-back effect should just about see us through. Prediction: Leeds United 3 Bristol City 2. DAVID WATKINS In November last year, Leeds travelled to the West Midlands full of hope but a much-fancied side walloped us 4-1. It was Wolves, of course, who dented our promotion optimism and they went on to reach the Premier League while we faded away. We now feel a similar sense of foreboding having suffered the same kind of a hiding against West Brom. The good news is that, following that disappointment at Molineux, Leeds went through to Christmas unbeaten, winning five of the next six games. We need same response starting with wins over Bristol City and Reading at Elland Road. The Robins have struggled this autumn having lost six of their last 10 games with only two wins and two draws in that sequence but that lack of form is surprising and away from home their record looks better. Only six sides have won more points away and only four have scored more goals on the road. I doubt it will be easy but I’m expecting a reaction from Leeds and a nerve-settling three points. Prediction: Leeds United 3 Bristol City 1. ANDY RHODES At last, another international break over and a chance for Leeds to make amends following their first real beating of the season. It feels like ages since that cold, dark Saturday night in West Bromwich but Marcelo Bielsa won’t let his side forget it. Instead it will serve as a reminder of just how close this crazy league is. So, on to Bristol City, a home game that any serious contender should be winning. Even more so when you consider that the Robins have suffered three straight defeats in the Championship. Yet Leeds aren’t exactly flying themselves and sit 14th in the form table, just three places above tomorrow’s visitors. Leeds will be hoping that the break will have given the likes of Samuel Saiz and Pablo Hernandez a welcome rest, while the injuries to Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Pontus Jansson and Jamal Blackman’s season-ending leg break will test United’s resources to the limit. Six points from the two home games to come would do everyone a world of good. Prediction: Leeds United 3 Bristol City 1. KEITH INGHAM After a two-week break, Leeds, hopefully, will have done two things: relaxed a little then trained hard in the week up to this fixture with Bristol City. Bristol City are 12th in the table and have lost their last three games to Preston, Reading and Stoke, so they will be keen to get back to winning ways at Elland Road. Leeds, on the other hand, will be hoping to put the poor performance at the Hawthorns behind them. This is the first of two home games Leeds face in four days, the other is against Reading next Tuesday. A healthy points return is expected from them. More than a few lines have been written about whether Leeds need a few reinforcements in January. Well, for me, if Leeds want to continue in the healthy place they find themselves in, it’s a ‘no brainer’ but without a few key positions – a goalkeeper included – the fans’ dreams could once again turn into a massive disappointment. Key to this is making contact with the players NOW, not waiting until the January window is opened. If the club invests carefully it could be just the boost to take the club back to the promised land. Tomorrow’s game is one that Leeds should win by a couple of goals and if they don’t underestimate their opponents they will get another important win. Prediction: Leeds United 2 Bristol City 0. MIKE GILL A real treat is in store for tomorrow. Back to Elland Road for a 3pm kick off in front of a sell-out crowd. A win would make it perfect and it would also make a pleasant change for a Saturday fixture at LS11. Hopefully two weeks has been enough to clear away memories of the painful defeat at West Bromwich Albion. Lee Johnson’s men, meanwhile, got off to a good start just like last season but have lost their last three matches to Reading Preston and Stoke. Just over a year ago Leeds thrashed City 3-0 at Ashton Gate. Samuel Saiz scored two of them and it makes you wonder what has happened to his shooting boots . In the fixture at Elland Road in February, Leeds fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2, giving Paul Heckingbottom his first point. As we know now, points for the ex-Barnsley man were a rare commodity. This season, this fixture should be – and needs to be – a routine win for the Whites. If not then it’s plan ‘B’. Hang on, we don’t have a plan ‘B’! Prediction: Leeds United 3 Bristol City 1. SHAUN SMITH Leeds United find themselves trying to recover from a right old pasting in their last outing. It is the mark of true champions to take a blow to the chin and come back fighting. As Leeds band Chumbawamba so famously put it “I get knocked down but I get up again”, none more so than Pablo Hernandez who has taken time to speak to the media over the last 10 days to reassure that all is not lost at Elland Road. Bristol City provide the kind of opposition that most fans will expect to be rolled over by the hour and give the Whites with an easy three points. Nothing is easy in the Championship, yet if Leeds don’t put this one to bed then serious doubts must exist whether they are the real McCoy. It’s time we scored first. Early pressure, back of the net, 2-0 nil by half-time and everyone can enjoy their meal deal relatively angst-free. It’s time we all had a decent weekend if not at the top of the league then somewhere within realistic striking distance of it. So let us be positive, let us prove our bouncebackability and 3-0 to the mighty Whites. Prediction: Leeds United 3 Bristol City 0.