Derby County make the trip to Leeds United this weekend without one of their key players under manager Paul Warne.
The two sides are set to meet for the first time since Derby gave Leeds a guard of honour in a meeting following Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s promotion to the Premier League.
After three years in the top-flight for Leeds, and two in League One for Derby, both are now back in the Championship together again and so Saturday’s clash at Elland Road will see a renewal of old rivalries.
Sky Sports pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has backed Leeds to beat Derby after the disappointment of losing at Blackburn Rovers last time out.
Derby, meanwhile, have won just one of their last nine matches and so Leeds will see this as a great opportunity to get back on track ahead of the Christmas period.
Derby without Ebou Adams for Leeds trip
Not only did Derby suffer late heartbreak against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, but they also lost a key player for the clash at Leeds.
Ebou Adams, who scored Derby’s opener in defeat to the Owls, picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the first half, which sees him ruled out in West Yorkshire.
Adams had played all 18 Championship matches for the Rams this season, including starts in each of the last 16, showing what an important player he had become.
Former Derby defender Shaun Barker says Adams will leave a ‘huge hole to fill’ at Elland Road due to the ‘tenacity’ in which he plays with in midfield.
He said: “Huge hole to fill; I thought he was a different player when he was booked. The first 40 minutes he was outstanding everywhere again, tackles; he was the one that was drifting to that right-hand side and stepping through players.
“I thought he had a real tenacity, which is him, which is why we love him, but after the booking, he was a little bit more refrained, a little bit more careful, because the referee had already spoken to him on numerous occasions, so it took away some of his performance.
“But he is going to be a big miss because the last six or seven weeks since he has been back in the starting line-up, he has been a huge player and been so impactful that it is a shame, but you have to fill the gaps.”
Joe Rodon and Wilfried Gnonto close to avoiding ban
Leeds have had their own suspension issues this season but are edging ever closer to not having to worry about bans for either Joe Rodon or Wilfried Gnonto.
Both Rodon and Gnonto have been sat on four yellow cards for several weeks now but have somehow managed to avoid picking up a fifth.
The cut-off point is actually after this weekend’s match so if the key Leeds duo do not get booked against Derby their suspension worries will finally be over.
With Middlesbrough heading to Elland Road in midweek, Leeds will be desperate for them both to come through this one unscathed.
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