Three key battles Leeds must win in Hull City trip, as Luke Ayling faces toughest test of the season

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Leeds United will be looking for back-to-back league victories for the first time this season at Hull City this evening.

The Whites face a short turnaround from Sunday’s 3-0 win at Millwall as they make the trip east to face a Hull side who are unbeaten since the opening day of the season.

Daniel Farke’s side produced their most accomplished performance of the campaign at the Den but know they will have to be at the top of their game again tonight.

Hull possess arguably a far bigger threat in the final third than what Millwall did and so Leeds’ recent defensive improvement will face a big test.

So, with that in mind, here is a look at three key battles that could decide tonight’s outcome.

Luke Ayling vs Jaden Philogene

Providing Ayling is handed another start tonight, he will face his toughest defensive test of the season up against Philogene.

Philogene made his Hull City debut on Friday against Coventry following his £5 million arrival from Aston Villa on deadline day, with his pace and trickery set to provide Ayling with a real challenge.

If Ayling is able to get the better of the 21-year-old then Leeds will go a long way to earning a positive result at the MKM Stadium.

Ethan Ampadu vs Scott Twine

Much of Hull’s creativity through the middle comes through Twine as he joined the club on a season-long-loan deal from Burnley.

Ampadu has been Leeds’ best and most consistent player this season and another top performance will be needed tonight to prevent Twine from getting on the ball.

Twine is a threat with his passing, but perhaps more so his shooting from distance and if Ampadu can restrict that, it will be key.

Willy Gnonto vs Lewie Coyle

Despite the likes of Jaidon Anthony and Dan James being available, Gnonto looks set to start on the left again.

He has the ability to cause any full-back in this league a problem and former Leeds defender Coyle is no different this evening.

Coyle has enjoyed a good start to the season for Hull but is unlikely to have faced a threat has big as Gnonto tonight, and so if Leeds can keep finding him the ball, they should get some joy.