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Jonathan Wilson on the promotion race
You don’t have to spend too much time at a Championship ground to hear the opinion that promotion isn’t worth the hassle, that the euphoria of the moment would soon be replaced by the gloom of habitual defeat. That’s true even at Leeds, who are playing with real verve and confidence at the moment. They haven’t lost in the league since the end of November. They’ve conceded only once in their last seven league games. Last Monday, they came from behind to beat Sunderland with a great pulsating finish, wave after wave of relentless attack eventually leading to a 95th-minute winner. On Monday they go to second-placed Sheffield United: win that and they will be five points clear at the top of the Championship.
Team news
Chris Wilder makes three changes to the Sheffield United side that won at Luton nine days ago. Harrison Burrows, Sydie Peck and Callum O’Hare come in for Sam McCallum, Hamza Choudhury and Rhian Brewster.
Just one change for Leeds. Pascal Struijk, the hero of last Monday’s win over Sunderland, returns to the starting line-up in place of the injured Ethan Ampadu.
Sheffield United (4-2-3-1) Cooper; Clarke, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Vinicius Souza, Peck; Rak-Sakyi, O’Hare, Brereton Diaz; Campbell.
Substitutes: Faxon, McCallum, Holding, Brewster, Hamer, Moore, Davies, Choudhury, Cannon.
Leeds United (4-2-3-1) Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.
Substitutes: Darlow, Rothwell, Ramazani, Joseph, Guilavogui, Byram, Gnonto, Wober, Schmidt.
Referee David Webb.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live minute-by-minute coverage of a huge Championship match at Bramall Lane: 2nd v 1st, Sheffield United v Leeds, a Yorkshire derby of considerable significance.
Burnley’s whiter-than-white form means it is almost certainly a three-horse race for the two automatic promotion places. Even so, tonight’s winner – if there is one – will have a handy lead going into the home straight.
Kick-off 8pm GMT
