Leeds United will have to end an unwanted run of form against Aston Villa that stretches back 22 years when the two sides meet in the Premier League this weekend.
Daniel Farke is feeling the pressure as Leeds prepare to resume their Premier League season after a difficult run heading into the international break.
One crumb of comfort for the Leeds United coach is that his side will return to Elland Road, where they have enjoyed more success this season.
Leeds have lost just one game at home so far this season, as a Noah Okafor goal proved not to be enough to prevent a defeat against Tottenham.
However, Farke’s side will have to end a poor recent run of form against the Villains at Elland Road by following the advice of Gabby Agbonlahor.
Leeds United have endured a long winless run against Aston Villa at home
According to the data from 11v11, Leeds have not enjoyed much recent success against their next Premier League opponents in recent games at Elland Road.
After winning three of their first four Premier League fixtures against Villa at home, Leeds have now won just one from the subsequent 11 top-flight meetings between the two sides in West Yorkshire.
Leeds v Aston Villa at Elland Road in the Premier League since September 1995:
- Played: 11
- Won: 1
- Drawn: 6
- Lost: 4
That run includes six draws and four defeats, with the last win coming in May 2003, when Peter Reid guided Leeds to a 3-1 victory, as he helped to steer them to Premier League safety.
Leeds have not enjoyed much more success outside of the Premier League, with their only other home win against Villa since 2003 coming in December 2016, when goals from Chris Wood and Kemar Roofe handed the Whites a 2-0 victory.
Gabby Agbonlahor tells Leeds United how to beat Aston Villa
Speaking on TalkSport Breakfast alongside co-host Jeff Stelling, Agbonlahor told Farke that his side would need to make the game “horrible” for Aston Villa.
Mark Viduka scored a last-minute goal to seal the victory the last time Leeds won against Villa at Elland Road in the Premier League, and Agbonlahor believes the crowd will need to be at its most hostile for the Whites to repeat that trick.
The pundit said: “They have to look at this game as well and say, ‘We have to win this game’. Aston Villa are in great form, but if you win this game on the weekend, you play after Newcastle.
“If Newcastle lose to Man City and Leeds win. You go three points ahead of Newcastle, and [Farke is] under pressure?
“So I think it’s an important game, and up-and-coming home games, like you said, they have to get results. They have to make it a fortress, make it a horrible game if you’re Leeds.”
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