Leeds United XI to beat high-flying Reading
Leeds United will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host fellow promotion hopefuls Reading at Elland Road on Tuesday night.
The Whites were beaten 2-0 by another team aiming for the Premier League – Brighton and Hove Albion – at the Amex Stadium on Friday night as they finished the weekend in sixth position in the Championship standings.
Garry Monk’s men were always up against it after Kalvin Phillips was dismissed in the 23rd minute when he handled the ball on the line, with Glenn Murray converting the penalty.
Next up for the Yorkshire outfit is another test against the in-form Royals, who lie in third place after winning six of their last seven matches, and Monk will have to make at least one change to his starting XI – with Phillips serving a suspension following his red card on the south coast.
Football FanCast picks the Leeds XI that will take all three points at Elland Road…
GK: Rob Green
As soon as Leeds went down to 10 men in the 23rd minute against Brighton, Green would have guessed that he was in for a busy match and it proved to be the case as the majority of the play came in the Leeds half.
There was little he could do about either goal and he will now hope to replicate the clean sheet he kept in the Whites’ previous home league game against Aston Villa.
RB: Luke Ayling
The right-back had to stand on egg shells for the rest of the match on Friday night after being booked for a tackle on Jamie Murphy in the 11th minute, and of course matters weren’t helped when Kalvin Phillips was dismissed – increasing the pressure on the defence.
Ayling will look to avoid another early yellow card against the in-form Royals, when he comes up against a notoriously tricky winger in the form of Jordan Obita.
CB: Kyle Bartley
Like Ayling, the centre-back was also booked against Brighton. Amid a solid season, he will want to put in another dominant display, while ensuring that he stays on the pitch, when Reading visit Elland Road on Tuesday.
Alongside Pontus Jansson, the on-loan Swansea man has impressed for the Whites this season and he will have a physical battle to look forward to against the Royals, with either Dominic Samuel or Yann Kermorgant likely to start up top for Jaap Stam’s side.
CB: Pontus Jansson
The Swede was taken off with two minutes to play against Brighton and he didn’t look too impressed by Monk’s decision to substitute him.
After showing great form at the heart of the defence this season, Leeds supporters will be hoping he was sacrificed because he was on a yellow card rather than picking up a late injury, as the Torino loanee looks to continue his impressive partnership with Bartley.
LB: Charlie Taylor
Taylor is one of the most exciting players in the Championship and he will look to once again make a difference at both ends of the pitch against Reading, who were beaten 5-0 in their last away game at Fulham.
The full-back will need to be on his game defensively as he comes up against potent Royals winger Roy Beerens, who scored both of his side’s goals in their 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
CM: Ronaldo Vieira
The 18-year-old has been one of Leeds’ breakthrough young stars this season and had formed a good partnership with Kalvin Phillips in recent weeks, although that was broken up when Philips saw Red against Brighton.
Vieira will have a new midfield partner on Tuesday and be asked to provide that continuity in the engine room. He will need to be strong when he comes up against Garath McCleary, who is one of the Championship’s most experienced performers.
CM: Matt Grimes
With Kalvin Phillips set to miss the match against Jaap Stam’s men following his red card, Grimes appears the most likely to deputise in central midfield.
He entered the action at half-time against the Seagulls and slotted in alongside Vieira in the middle of the park. He looks set do the same again on Tuesday with Eunan O’Kane and Liam Bridcutt still doubts because of groin and foot injuries respectively.
RW: Stuart Dallas
Following the 2-0 defeat to Brighton, Leeds boss Monk may look to shake up his attacking options for the visit of the Royals and it could be a chance for Dallas to impress on the wing instead.
Hadi Sacko has been largely inconsistent during his spell in the starting XI, so it could be time for him to be given a rest and the Northern Ireland international handed an opportunity to put the Reading defenders under pressure.
CAM: Kemar Roofe
The attacking midfielder scored his first Leeds goal in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa in their last match at Elland Road, and will be keen to net in successive home games when Reading come to town.
Chances were few and far between for Monk’s men at Brighton on Friday night once they went down to 10 men, and it was a largely frustrating night for Roofe and Co in attack.
But the former Oxford man is an exciting talent and will want to have more of an impact against the Royals.
LW: Souleymane Doukara
Like Roofe, the Senegal forward endured a frustrating night at the Amex Stadium after being one of Leeds’ most impressive attackers in recent weeks.
But he scored in the Yorkshire derby against Rotherham before assisting Roofe for his first Leeds goal against Aston Villa, and he will look to provide that goal threat and creativity on Tuesday night – although that may be tough against a Wales international in the form of Reading right-back Chris Gunter.
ST: Chris Wood
Leeds will once again be looking to top goalscorer Chris Wood to provide their main attacking threat against the high-flying Royals, as he attempts to add to the ten league goals he has netted this term.
He faces a tough centre-back duo in Paul McShane and Liam Moore, who have been key to the Royals’ recent rise up the Championship table, but is more than capable of adding to his tally against them.