1 week ago
16
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26 min This is an even but not very good game. The longer it stays goalless, though, the more the tension will increase.
24 min …but Solomon’s cross is a poor one and hits a claret head.
23 min A foul on Bogle means Leeds now have a chance to swing a ball into the box from down the right…
23 min This has been a better few minutes for Burnley, though they’re grateful for a Gruev’s poor pass when an attack breaks down and they’ve a chance to counter.
21 min Allowed time and space down the left, Humphreys curls in a decent cross and Flemming’s up … but he can’t make proper contact and the ball slides wide.
19 min Leeds, you’d think, would have a much better chance of surviving in the Premier League than Burnley, whose defence might not be so impenetrable against a higher level of opposition, while 36 goals in 28 Championship games does not suggest an ability to score their way out of it.
17 min Better from Leeds, James dashing in off the flank and exchanging passes with Bogle, taking a decent touch which sends him into the box. His shot, though, though decent, slips wide – but Solmon was on his heels. Had he been on his toes, he might just’ve been able to slide at it.
16 min Aaronson wins it off Brownhill in midfield, but Burnley close space well and force him backwards. I thought he might perhaps have run forward with it there, though understand why he didn’t. Ultimately, a goalless draw would be a pretty decent result for Leeds
14 min Neither side looks keen to risk anything so far, taking care not to commit too many men forward. I’m not exactly sure what Burnley’s attacking plan is; what kind of goal is Parker hoping his team score?
12 min No doubt we all have tunes with lyrics that fit with the name of a footballer. Well this banger offers us a choice: Piroe or Pires?
10 min But here come Burnley, Roberts shifting it, shifting it again, and playing a little one-two with Humphreys before digging out a cross … that Flemming heads in the wrong direction. Still, though, that’s better from the home side.
8 min Leeds might’ve taken over this game. They’re dominating possession and finding Solomon whenever they can; I wonder if Junior Firpo, who played well off the bench last time out, might give him better assistance than he’s currently getting from Byram. The way Burnley defend, they’ll need to find space out wide of they can, but for now they’re not circulating trhe ball well enough to get the Israeli one on one or attacking a man while in full flow.
6 min Burnley are looking to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and that’s allowing Leeds to counter into space. Again, they spring quickly, but this time can’t pick a killer pass, moving it form side to side before Bogle has a shot that’s blocked, the middle of the pitch blocked by a phalanx of defenders.
5 min Aaronson curls into the wall but the ref blows up anyroad – for what I’m not sure.
4 min But now Leeds pass it out, Bogle allowed to carry a long way before finding Piroe who can make nothing of it. But Solmon picks up the loose ball and Roberts can’t help himself, gratuitously knocking his man over. Free-kick Leeds, 20 yards out and left of centre…
3 min A frantic start with no shape to it; Leeds haven’t passed it with their usual precision and Burnley are eager to get in among them.
1 min The away end are in good voice, though again, credit where it’s due: Elland Road, when it’s good, is that contemporary rarity: a ground that has people acting like bams in every stand, not just behind the goals.
1 min Away we go
On the other hand, Daniel Farke has gone into the barber and insisted on a 90s mettlar look, then tipexxed “Rancid”, “Biohazard”, “Pantera” and “Therapy?” on to his pencil case.
Credit where due, there are some good heads of hair in this Leeds XI; Seth Johnson could never.
And here they come!
Our teams tunnel. Leeds’ tracky top has an unusual strait-jacket effect.
So where is the game? Burnley will look to absorb pressure then counter, I think, shutting down space in behind and cluttering the middle of the pitch, forcing Leeds to go around them. That makes Daniel James an important player, but he’ll need help from Jayden Bogle behind him, while I’d expect the in-form Manor Solomon to float about seeking pockets.
The more I think about it, the more I fancy Leeds, even though Burnley are unbeaten at home this season; seven games no goals conceded is mighty impressive, but no opponent had attackers or bench options remotely comparable to those they’ll face tonight.
The last time Burnley conceded a goal was nine hours 10 minutes ago, at Watford on 21st December. They may, though, feel pressure to push men forward tonight in search of a win.
Parker tells Sky his side won last time the sides met because of their resilience, but he’s hoping for a bit more quality this time.
Farke, meanwhile, explains that Gruev is back because it’s a big game and he’s fit, but also Rothwell has been forced to play a lot in his absence.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Ao Tanaka. I’ve not seen loads of Leeds this term but like what I’ve seen of him, and am reliably informed by a Leeds-supporting mate that he’s been there best player.
Email! “You drew the long straw then?” asks Jeremy Boyce. “This is as tasty a match up as you suggested. Top scorers v top defenders. Top of the table v third, in a group of four class teams, two of which will have to go through the nightmare of the playoffs, and they all have experience of that. Is the top of the Championship better than the bottom of the Prem? We’ll find out next season. Burnley need a four-goal win to go top tonight, but I’m thinking a regulation Scott Parker 1-0 would do them. Leeds will need all of their 66% possession to break down the Clarets’ defence. Fast start? Solomon four mins? We’ll find out shortly.”
I can’t see Burnley shutting Leeds out a second time – they won 1-0 at Elland Road earlier in the season – nor can I see anyone finishing above Leeds. They just have too many ways of scoring.
On the other hand, Leeds have weaknesses at either end of the pitch. In net, Illan Meslier has endured a miserable period and isn’t necessarily over it, while up front, Joël Piroe isn’t the class of the players behind him.
Leeds will certainly ask some different questions of them. In particular, the three behind the striker – James, Aaronson and Solomon – are capable of causing problems, able to carry the ball, attack space and shoot. It’s a terrific blend, which is why players as talented as Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani are on the bench.
There were signs in midweek that Burnley, owners of the best defensive record in the country, are looking to play more expansively. It may simply be that they were playing Plymouth, the bottom team, but they may also feel that in order to get one of the two automatic promotion places, more goals will be necessary.
And Daniel Farke does likewise, bringing in Gruev, back from injury, for Rothwell in midfield.
Scott E. Parker makes one change to the side which clobbered Plymouth, Humphreys replacing Pires at left-back.
I’m going to get the car for my wife and write these teams down, then we’ll have a think about what they mean.
Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu says the players are excited. There’ll be two teams trying to win the game and both teams are good.
More news as I get it.
Teams!
Burnley (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent; Anthony, Brownhill, Foster; Flemming. Subs: Worrall, Sarmiento, Rodriguez, Egan, Pires, Mejbri, Koleosho, Hladky, Barnes.
Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Rodon, Byram; Gruev, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe. Subs: Darlow, Schmidt, Firpo, Wöber, Rothwell, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gnont, Joseph.
Preamble
Pre-match, it’s the job of the MBMer to amp up the situation. Generally speaking, this an easy activity, given one of the reasons football keeps us coming back is the prospect that, with no warning, we might see something brilliant, hilarious or disgraceful.
But sometimes there’s a game of such obvious import and interest that is does all the work by itself, and Burnley v Leeds is one such.
The home side, third in the league, are in pretty decent form, having walloped Plymouth 5-0 in midweek and won six of their last 10 games, while the visitors – three points ahead – and one ahead of Sheffield United with a game in hand – have won seven. They, along with Sunderland – four points off the lead in fourth – are well clear of the pack, automatic promotion likely to go to two of the four.
Tonight’s match-up is also fascinating because it features the division’s best attack – Leeds’ 53 goals is five more than Norwich – against its best defence – Burnley’s nine conceded is 10 fewer than tonight’s opponents. And if to all that you add a night game under the lights along with some of the best individuals outside the Premier League, you have a tantalising prospect primed to elevate our evening.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT
