4 weeks agoNew York StateComments Off on Burnley may be the clean-sheet kings but free-scoring Leeds can regain top spot in the Championship by downing Sunderland
Illan Meslier stand between Sunderland and the Leeds goal (Picture: Getty Images)
Leeds United may have some way to go to match Burnley’s new Championship record of 11 consecutive clean sheets but their defence is still pretty watertight after six successive league games without conceding.
And if they extend their current purple patch in defence by keeping promotion rivals Sunderland at bay in their big Monday night showdown at Elland Road it will send them back to the top of the table by vaulting over Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United.
It won’t be an easy task as the visiting Wearsiders are still on the coattails of the automatic promotion race and will be desperate to win as they will be eight points off the pace if they lose this fixture with a play-off place looking more likely than a straight ticket to the Premier League.
The Black Cats have won five and drawn three of their last eight games in English football’s second tier, but Leeds have fared even better with ten wins and four draws since their last defeat at the end of November.
They have also won 13 and drawn two of 16 games on home soil where their rearguard has only been breached on seven occasions while Sunderland have been patchy away from the Stadium of Light, where they are unbeaten, with seven wins and five draws alongside four defeats on their travels.
They have become reliant on Wilson Isidor, who has scored six in his last ten outings, while Daniel Farke’s team spread the goals around with Joel Piroe bagging 14 league goals alongside valuable contributions from Daniel James, Brendan Aaronson and Manor Solomon.
Their 66 league goals is 15 more than any other team in the Championship with United chalking up 13 in their last three league games.
Chris Rigg opened the scoring when Sunderland drew 2-2 with Leeds in October but the Black Cats won’t be so lucky this time around (Picture: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Leeds, are heavy odds-on favourites to win the title and just 4/7 with William Hill and Betway to return to the top of the table with a victory against Sunderland but a 2-0 scoreline looks good at 6/1 with bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports and Sky Bet.
Under.25 goals is 10/11 with bet365 and Betfred and Leeds are 6/4 with bet365, Sky Bet and StarSports to win without conceding. Pirloe, meanwhile, is 22/5 with Unibet and BETMGM to put the hosts on the road to victory and 43/20 with the same firms to score at any time.
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