Leeds United will be really looking to build up ahead of steam when the Championship gets back underway next week.
Daniel Farke’s side currently sit fifth in the Championship after the opening nine matches but know their points tally could be so much higher.
Leeds only failed to win at Sunderland due to Illan Meslier‘s stoppage time error, while Manor Solomon’s slip proved costly in defeat to Burnley. Against Portsmouth, Leeds had enough chances to win three games.
Having said that, Leeds do face a considerably kinder set of fixtures in the coming weeks, with four of the bottom 11 to play in the next six.
Here is our prediction for those games, which will take the season to the November international break.
Sheffield United (H) – October 18
Sheffield United is undoubtedly Leeds’ toughest fixture of this run and it is made all the more difficult by the Friday night scheduling by Sky Sports.
Leeds have Wilfried Gnonto, Junior Firpo, Mateo Joseph, Ao Tanaka and Brenden Aaronson all in action across Tuesday into Wednesday morning, giving half the team barely any recovery time.
This is far from ideal considering Sheffield United have conceded just three goals so far, and remain the only undefeated side in the EFL.
Following Chris Wilder’s comments about Leeds after the pursuit of Blades star man Gustavo Hamer, this match does have an extra bit of spice to it. That said, a point probably wouldn’t be the worst result.
Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Sheffield United
Watford (H) – October 22
Sitting sixth and level on points with Leeds, Watford have been one of the Championship’s surprise packages so far this season.
However, this is a game Leeds simply have to be targeting a win from, particularly on home soil and given Watford’s struggles away from home.
The Hornets have lost each of their last three on their travels, including heavily at both Norwich City and Preston North End. A similar result to Coventry City could be on the cards here.
Prediction: Leeds 2-0 Watford
Bristol City (A) – October 26
Leeds are actually unbeaten away from home so far this season and Bristol City are the next side to put that record to the test.
Having won eight of the last nine meetings, four of which were away from home, Leeds have a good record against Bristol City in recent years.
In the likes of Scott Twine and Sinclair Armstrong, the Robins do have some dangerous attacking players that can hurt Leeds. However, as a team, they are just so inconsistent.
Prediction: Bristol City 1-3 Leeds
Plymouth Argyle (H) – November 2
Plymouth have defied a lot of people to be sat 14th after nine matches amid the criticism that was aimed their way following Wayne Rooney’s appointment.
However, much like last season, Argyle have so far accumulated the majority of their 11 points at home and so at Elland Road, Leeds should have too much.
Leeds loanee Darko Gyabi has become a key player for Rooney this season but will be ineligible for this one, which is a big blow.
Prediction: Leeds 2-0 Plymouth
Millwall (A) – November 6
Leeds may have cruised past Millwall 3-0 at the Den last season but this will never be an easy ground to take points from for the Whites.
The fixture is arguably made all the more difficult that it has been scheduled for a night, as the home fans will be right up for it.
Despite sitting 18th in the table, Millwall are actually among the best sides in the league for creating chances this season, with their tally of 27 big chances matched by Leeds and bettered only by Norwich. Won’t be easy this one.
Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Leeds
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QPR (H) – November 9
This game may actually have a feeling of revenge behind it for Leeds after their embarrassing 4-0 defeat at QPR in April all but ended their automatic promotion hopes.
QPR had been expected to build on their positive end to last season under Marti Cifuentes but have struggled for wins in their opening nine matches, with only one so far.
As such, this is another winnable home game as far as Leeds are concerned but it certainly won’t be a walk in the park.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 QPR
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