Leeds United make the trip to Cardiff City hoping to return to winning ways and Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has given his prediction.
Leeds are under pressure to get back on track after last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road to Burnley, which was their first in the league this season.
Although it was only their first bump in the road, it was the manner of the defeat which has Leeds fans concerned.
Leeds simply did not have the answers to Burnley sitting in a low block, a pattern seen on so many occasions last season under Daniel Farke too.
It is likely they will come up against a side who adopt similar tactics in South Wales, with Cardiff in desperate need of a win after picking up just one point from their opening five matches.
Prutton predicts Cardiff vs Leeds scoreline
Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut is under all sorts of pressure heading into the weekend, with calls already for him to be sacked after only signing a new two-year-deal in the summer.
There is simply no excuse for Leeds not to take advantage of this and so defeat could see Farke come under serious scrutiny from supporters.
Leeds ran out 3-0 winners at the Cardiff City Stadium in January earlier this year and if they are able to get an early goal, the home crowd is likely to turn on their side, which could see this game taking a similar pattern.
Speaking on the latest episode of the EFL Predictions Podcast, former Leeds midfielder Prutton is backing Farke’s side to comfortably come out on top in this one.
He said: “Well Cardiff are in a massive rut aren’t they, the fact they sit bottom with just a solitary point. Leeds, that poor defending that opened up the whole of the pitch for Koleosho against Burnley.
“You would like to think they will right that and I am going to go a Leeds win on the road here. It’s a trip and a half but I think they’ll get all three points. Cardiff 0-2 Leeds.”
Predicted Leeds XI to face Cardiff
Farke is certainly not one to panic after just one defeat but there are certainly changes he could make to turn his side’s fortunes around.
Jayden Bogle did not enjoy the best of afternoon’s against Burnley and has both Sam Byram and Isaac Schmidt breathing down his neck, though it feels unlikely he will be dropped.
However, midfield is where a change needs making. Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev does not work overly well as a partnership and so after a full week of training under his belt, Ao Tanaka should start.
Tanaka can bring that more forward thinking presence in the engine room, which is what the current pairing is lacking.
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