Leeds look to change their fortunes at home to Charlton.

Leeds welcome Charlton Athletic to Elland Road on Tuesday night after suffering back to back losses in the week. The Whites have now lost 10 games in all competitions in 2014 and won just three. 

The defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday was the first time Leeds have ever lost to the Cherries and Doncaster's win at Elland Road on Saturday was the first time since 2008 that the Whites had suffered a defeat against their fellow Yorkshire club. 

Brian McDermott is eagerly awaiting the outcome of Massimo Cellino's appeal on Monday and he has blamed the lack of stability at the club on the sides poor form. The players were only paid half of their wages on Friday as GFH once again prove they are incapable of running a football club. 

Charlton come into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to play-off chasers Derby on Saturday. The Addicks are currently level on points with Barnsley who occupy the last relegation spot but have two games in hand on them and three games in hand on the majority of the sides around them. 

After sacking Chris Powell, the London club have picked up eight points from six games leaving them in the relegation mix. Yann Kermorgant was the clubs top scorer before moving to Bournemouth, meaning captain Johnnie Jackson is the Addicks top scorer on just four goals. 

Heading into the game, Charlton have achieved just three away Championship wins all season with the most recent coming at the City Ground last Tuesday. The Addicks have picked up two wins in their last five and are the Championships lowest scoring club on just 26 goals from 36 games. 

Ross McCormack is scoring plenty of goals for Leeds and with 27 has scored more Championship goals than the entire Charlton squad put together. Unfortunately Ross' goals only seem to come as consolation for the club the defence continues to leak goals. 

The last time the sides met Leeds took all three points on a miserable day at the Valley that saw the game threatened to be called off due to heavy rain. Ross McCormack bagged all four in a 4-2 victory for the Whites in November. 

Charlton haven't won at Elland Road since 2002 but now is a better time than any to face a Leeds side who have suffered a number of  heavy defeats since the turn of the year. The Whites haven't defeated the Addicks at home since 2000 with no wins against the London club in five attempts. 

The last time the sides met at Elland Road the spoils were shared as it finished 1-1. Leeds have won just twice on Tuesday nights since promotion back to the Championship, with the weekday seeming to cursed for the Whites. 

Last meeting: November 9, 2013, Charlton Athletic 2-4 Leeds United (McCormack x4)
At Elland Road: October 23, 2012, Leeds United 1-1 Charlton Athletic (Norris) 
Last five league games: Leeds United LLWLL
Charlton Athletic - DWLWL 

Latest results - Leeds United 1-2 Doncaster Rovers / Derby County 3-0 Charlton Athletic 

Pictures courtesy of: Sky Sports, Yorkshire Post, Daily Mail 

Leeds welcome Doncaster to Elland Road after another humiliation.

Leeds host Doncaster on Saturday on the back of yet another humiliating defeat as they were battered 4-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday. Leeds have lost by big score-lines on numerous occasions in 2014 and will be looking to put that behind them against Donny at Elland Road on Saturday.

1300 Leeds fans travelled down to the South Coast on Tuesday to watch their team put in very little effort. The fans are the pride of Leeds United at the moment and for their loyal support they are being rewarded with absolutely terrible performances on the pitch.

The 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth was the first time that any Leeds United side has lost to the Cherries. This, accompanied with a 6-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, 2-0 defeat at League Two side Rochdale, 5-1 home defeat to Bolton and a poor 4-2 home defeat at home to Reading has left Leeds fans anticipating the end of this season.

The humiliating defeat came following a terrible Monday that saw the recall of Connor Wickham by Sunderland and the rejection of Massimo Cellino's takeover bid by the Football League. From a fans point of view, the sooner this season comes to an end the better. 

Doncaster are in the relegation mix and currently sit eight points clear of the drop zone. They won the League 1 title in dramatic circumstances last season but have failed to recapture the form that saw them win the title last season. 

Paul Dickov's side have managed just one away win all season when they beat Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Chris Brown is the clubs top scorer on a dismal eight goals which has seen the Yorkshire club find it difficult to pull away from the relegation scrap. 

Donny have struggled to find goals this season but have managed to pick up the majority of their points at the Keepmoat which could see them remain a Championship club, at least for another season. The South-Yorkshire club have scored just 33 goals in 38 games this season and if Charlton were to pick up five points from their remaining three games in hand, Donny could find themselves one place from the drop zone.  

Doncaster's last away game saw them lose 2-0 to high-flyers Burnley. They haven't won at Elland Road since 2008 but with Leeds in such dreadful form, there is no better time to face the Whites. 

Rovers biggest success against Leeds came in the 2008 League One play-off final when they won 1-0 to claim promotion to the Championship. Including this, Donny have only ever beat Leeds on four occasions with just the one victory at Elland Road. 

Doncaster have managed three wins in their last five whereas Leeds have managed just three wins in their last 18 in all competitions. 

Leeds have managed just one win in their last eight and just three wins in total in 2014. Brian McDermott has had to defend himself on countless occasions for poor performances and you have to imagine he is running out of time at the club. 

Owners GFH have been the target of a lot of the frustration of Leeds fans as they seem to only appear through the good times and disappear when the club is going through a rough patch. Leeds' lowest attendance this season for a 3pm fixture was 23,200 against Millwall last Saturday, surprisingly more than you'd expect with the turmoil surrounding the club. 

Ross McCormack has been one of the few bright notes of this season for Leeds and he bagged the consolation at Bournemouth, which was also his 26th league goal of the season. The Whites captain has shown great support towards Leeds fans throughout the campaign and celebrated by bowing down to the 1300 supporters who had travelled to the South-Coast. 

Leeds have never lost to Doncaster since the 2008 play-off final, with a 0-0 draw the best Rovers have managed against the Whites. Since then, Leeds have beaten Donny six times in a row with the most recent meeting resulting in a 3-0 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium where Leeds have never lost. 

Leeds have categorised this fixture as a "Cat A" fixture meaning tickets cost as much as £36 for both home and away fans so a high attendance isn't expected at Elland Road and who could blame either set of fans? 

The Yorkshire derby has seen plenty of goals in recent years with Leeds winning twice at Doncaster this season, scoring three in both fixtures. The last time the sides met at Elland Road, Leeds came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 upon the appointment of Neil Warnock as manager. 

Last meeting: December 14, 2013, Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Leeds United (Smith, McCormack, Austin)
At Elland Road: February 18, 2012, Leeds United 3-2 Doncaster Rovers (Townsend, Clayton, Becchio) 
Last five league games: Leeds United LLLWL
Doncaster Rovers - WWDWL

Latest results - AFC Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds United / Burnley 2-0 Doncaster Rovers

Pictures courtesy of: Yorkshire Evening Post, Phil Hay, The Telegraph & BBC

Leeds travel to Bournemouth looking to add to Saturday's win.

Leeds United travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth on Tuesday on the back of their first victory in seven games. The Whites secured three points for the first time since February 8th when they beat Millwall 2-1 on Saturday.

A terrible run of six games without a win saw Leeds slip to 15th in the table but the recent home win against Millwall saw the Whites climb back to 13th. Victory against Bournemouth on Tuesday would see Leeds climb above their opponents in the table, with a game in hand still to play. 

News that the Football League have rejected Massimo Cellino's bid to take over the club has led to questions being raised over the future of the club. The Italian businessman failed the 'fit and proper' test leaving owners GFH searching for a new buyer. Brain McDermott has once more called for stability at the Whites and insisted he is the man to take Leeds forward. 

A victory for United and results going in their favour could see them move to within nine points of the play-offs but many fans had given that dream up as long ago as January. 
The scrappy victory against Millwall was only the third time Leeds have won a game in 2014.

Eddie Howe's men head into the game on the back of an injury time win over Barnsley which saw them move up to 11th in the division. The Cherries have conceded just once in their last six games and six of their last ten games has ended 1-0 to either side. A run of three wins in five has seen Bournemouth move well clear of the drop zone. 

Of the sides promoted from League 1 last season, Bournemouth are proving to have adapted to the Championship a lot better. While Doncaster and Yeovil fight for survival the Cherries are on course to finish the season in the top half of the table and their more optimistic fans may even say they are in with a shout for a play-off spot as they sit 10 points from 6th. 

Bournemouth have won more of their games at home than away and have made Dean Court a difficult place for travelling teams to go to. Lewis Grabban is the clubs top goalscorer with 15 so far this season and he will be looking to add to the goal he scored against Leeds earlier in the season. 

Leeds have never lost to Bournemouth in 10 meetings and two 0-0 draws in 1988 is the best the Cherries have managed against the Yorkshire club. The Whites have won their last six in a row against Tuesday's opponents with the most recent victory coming at Elland Road in October 2013. 

The most famous meeting between the sides came in 1990 when Leeds won 1-0 at Bournemouth on May 5th. The victory gave Leeds the Division Two Title and promotion back to the top flight after an eight year absence. Unfortunately the date is also associated with Leeds fans running riot in Bournemouth, causing damage and clashing with police. 

The sides last met at Dean Court in 2007 when Leeds ran out 3-1 winners as Tresor Kandol bagged a brace. Dom Poleon sealed the three points for the Whites in the most recent meeting between the sides. 

News that Connor Wickham had been recalled by Sunderland on Monday morning was not what Leeds wanted to hear at the start of the week. This followed by the Football League rejecting Massimo Cellino's takeover means the week has already been a difficult one for Leeds fans and it's only Monday.

Matt Smith is a man in form for Leeds as he has bagged three goals in four games for the Whites. Captain Ross McCormack added his 25th of the season against Millwall and the pair have scored 35 goals between them this season. 

Bournemouth haven't won at home since March 1st when they thumped Doncaster 5-0 and that was the only home victory they have produced in their last four. The Cherries will be hoping to put an end to that run and pick up their first ever win against Leeds. 

Last meeting: October 1, 2013, Leeds United 2-1 Bournemouth (McCormack, Poleon)
At Dean Court: November 6, 2007, Bournemouth 1-3 Leeds United (Kandol x2, Carole)  

Last five league games: Bournemouth WWDLW
Leeds United - DLLLW  

Pictures courtesy of the BBC, Daily Mail and Yorkshire Evening Post 

Leeds take on Millwall in search of a first victory in seven.

Leeds United welcome Millwall to Elland Road on Saturday in search of three points after six games without a win. The Whites last win came in early February when they won 2-1 at struggling Yeovil. 

Since then, two draws and four defeats has seen United’s season pretty much come to an end, with the play-offs seeming further and further away with every game. Leeds haven’t won in front of their own fans since the 5-1 victory over Huddersfield on February 1st and currently sit 15th in the table.

  

The Whites have scored just five goals in their last six and conceded an embarrassing 13. With 11 games to go, Leeds fans will be hoping the teams form will improve and they won’t be joining Millwall in the relegation scrap.

The clubs takeover by Massimo Cellino looks to have hit an iceberg as he has been found guilty of failing to pay import duty on his yacht. His company, Eleonora Sports agreed to buy a 75% stake in the club from GFH in February. Cellino's lawyer is still confident the deal to buy Leeds will be passed by the Football League. 

Millwall have managed just two league victories in their last 17 games and are sat in the last relegation spot in 22nd place. The Lions are level on 32 points with Charlton who sit a place above the drop zone. Yeovil who are a place below Millwall are just two points behind the London club and bottom side Barnsley are three points behind with a game in hand. To make matters worse for Millwall, Charlton have three games in hand, which if won, could leave them five points adrift of nearest sides Birmingham and Doncaster.

In their last two away games, Millwall have had contrasting fortunes. An impressive 1-0 win at play-off contenders Derby was followed by a defeat by the same score-line at struggling Blackpool. The Lions defeat to Blackpool was the first time the Tangerines had won in 18 games.

Leeds striker Steve Morison is on loan to the Lions but won’t be eligible to play meaning Millwall will be without their top scorer. With just two away wins all season, now is the perfect time to go to Leeds for Ian Holloway’s men as the Yorkshire side have picked up just one home win in their last eight and have lost three league games in a row. 

Leeds Captain Ross McCormack bagged his 24^th of the season at Burnley to put himself further clear as the Championships top scorer and was unlucky to miss out on the Championship player of the year award to Clarets striker Danny Ings.

Leeds have already suffered a defeat to Millwall this season when they were beaten 2-0 at the Den in September. Despite their dismal away record against the Lions, the Whites have beaten Millwall three times in a row at Elland Road and Brian McDermott will be hoping to add a fourth. The most recent victory came last March when Stephen Warnock's penalty sealed the three points for the Whites in a 1-0 win.

Millwall boss, Ian Holloway said he hopes Saturday’s game between the fierce rivals is about the football and the clubs reputations can be put behind them. The game is expected to be heavily policed due to clashes between fans in the past.

McDermott is hoping to turn the Whites fortunes around and bring stability to the club. Leeds will be looking to take advantage of Millwall’s awful away record and secure the three points at Elland Road.

Last meeting: September 28, 2013, Millwall 2-0 Leeds United
At Elland Road: March 2, 2013, Leeds United 1-0 Millwall (Warnock)  

Last five league games: Leeds United DDLLL
Millwall - LLWLD 

Leeds look to stop the rot at promotion favourites Burnley.

Leeds travel to Burnley on Saturday in search of their first victory in five games. The Whites have been on the end of back to back thrashings at the hands of Bolton and Reading in their last two games and manager Brian McDermott is looking to Saturday's game to stop the rot. 

In their last two at Elland Road, Leeds have conceded nine goals, finding the back of the net just three times themselves. A 5-1 thumping by Bolton followed by a 4-2 defeat to Reading has left McDermott calling for stability at the club. 

The controversies surrounding the ownership of Leeds United as well as a run of just two wins in the last 15 has led to a growing frustration among fans. Prospective owner Massimo Cellino revealed he is losing his patience with the Football League with regards to the takeover and he has already injected a reported £10 million to keep the club afloat. 

Burnley are on top form heading into the game and have recently picked up a victory at their most hated rivals Blackburn for the first time in 35 years. The Clarets are on course for automatic promotion and are currently eight points above nearest rivals Derby.  

Forward pair Sam Vokes and Danny Ings have netted 38 goals between them so far this season making them the second highest scoring partnership in the country, only behind Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. 

Manager Sean Dyche has claimed his side aren't thinking about promotion despite their league position and insists his players need to remain calm and see out their remaining fixtures. 

Burnley have already picked up three points from Leeds this season when they won 2-1 at Elland Road in September. Following their thrilling 3-3 draw at Birmingham on Wednesday, in which they conceded in the fourth minute of added time, the Clarets will be hoping to get back to winning ways when Leeds come to town on Saturday. 

Loan signing Connor Wickham is yet to find the back of the net in a Leeds shirt despite scoring regularly for fellow Yorkshire side, Sheffield Wednesday. The striker on loan from Sunderland hasn't scored in three appearances for the Whites but Matt Smith has bagged two goals in his last two games meaning we may see him return to the starting 11. 

McDermott made numerous changes to the side that lost to Bolton, including the return of Jason Pearce and Sam Byram. However the changes had little impact as the Whites defensive woes continued in the 4-2 defeat to Reading. 

Burnley head into the game having not lost a league game at home all season. Sean Dyche's men have lost just 3 league games this campaign and will be hoping his side can do the double over Leeds to further strengthen their grip on the second automatic promotion spot. The in-form side haven't lost a league game since defeat at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and haven't lost in the Championship at Turf Moor since defeat to Hull in March, 2013. 

Leeds are unbeaten in their last two away games but have failed to take advantage against two sides struggling for results. A goalless draw at Middlesbrough and a disappointing 1-1 draw at QPR means the Whites have picked up just five league victories away from Elland Road all season.

Last meeting: September 21st 2013, Leeds United 1-2 Burnley (Smith)
At Turf Moor: November 6th 2012, Burnley 1-0 Leeds United  

Last five league games: Burnley DWWWD 
Leeds United - LDDLL

Leeds look to bounce back at home to Reading.

Leeds host Brain McDermott's former side Reading, this Tuesday, exactly a year on from the day he was sacked by the club. The Whites manager will be hoping for a major improvement from the 5-1 home defeat to Bolton on Saturday. 

The Whites have managed just two wins in 2014 with victories over Huddersfield and Yeovil being the only positives in what is turning into a dire end to the season. 

Leeds, in-fact, have managed just two wins in their last 14 games and have suffered humiliation at the hands of Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday and more recently at home to Bolton.

Reading currently occupy the last play off place and have had an inconsistent season that has seen them put seven past Bolton, five past Blackpool and pull off convincing wins at fellow promotion chasers; QPR, Nottingham Forest and Derby 

However, dropped points against teams fighting for survival has made it difficult for them to cement their play-off place and goal difference is the only thing keeping them above Wigan who have two games in hand. 

In their last home game the Royals were held to a 1-1 draw against Yeovil who had three men sent off. The result led to Reading supporters booing their team at full-time and manager Nigel Adkins has asked them to "keep the faith" ahead of a crucial set of fixtures.

Adam Le Fondre has proven to be a pain in recent meetings between the two sides, netting three goals in his last two against the Whites. Reading are unbeaten in their last seven against Leeds and have won the last three meetings in a row.

You have to go back to 2005 for the last time Leeds managed a victory over Reading. Plenty of bore draws have been played out since but the Whites have failed to register a goal against the Royals in five games. 

Reading have already taken three points from Leeds earlier in the campaign. The Royals scored late on in a frantic final three of six minutes of added time that saw Jason Pearce come close to giving Leeds the lead, before Stephen Warnock was sent off and Le Fondre poked home from the resulting free-kick. 

Somehow, Leeds are just eight points behind their opponents and can reduce the gap to five with a much needed victory in front of their own fans. 

Matt Smith bagged a consolation against Bolton in the 5-1 thrashing and will be hoping to be involved again on Tuesday. 

McDermott has promised his side will "go for it" in recent weeks and Leeds have failed to do so in any of their three fixtures. Disappointing draws at struggling sides Middlesbrough and QPR as well as the embarrassment by Bolton has led to some fans questioning if Brian is the man for the job. 

Leeds fans will be praying for the return of Jason Pearce who had been a rock at the back all season and was clearly missed on Saturday. McDermott hasn't changed the sides style of play in weeks but has confirmed he will be making much needed changes ahead of Tuesday's game. 

Despite their league position, Reading have managed just one win in their last five games. Leeds, regardless of their dreadful form, remain just eight points off of the play-offs but even the most optimistic of fans will probably have given up hope of a top six finish. 

Last meeting: September 18th 2013, Reading 1-0 Leeds United 
At Elland Road: December 17th 2011, Leeds United 0-1 Reading 

Last five league games: Leeds United - WLDDL
Reading - LWLDD

Football returns to Elland Road as Leeds face Bolton.

Leeds United take on Bolton Wanderers in their first home league game in a month this Saturday and Brian McDermott could name an unchanged side from the 1-1 draw at QPR.

The Whites last home game saw them thrash fellow Yorkshire side Huddersfield 5-1 over a month ago. After just three goals in the last four, manager Brain McDermott will be hoping his side recapture the clinical form that beat the Terriers.  

Leeds' newest loan signings, Jack Butland and Connor Wickham, could be set to feature for the first time at home for the Whites and Wickham will be hoping for his first goal of many at Elland Road. 

Dougie Freedman's side have been on a good run with just one defeat in their last five helping to distance themselves from the relegation places. A 4-0 thumping of Blackburn in their last outing will fill the Trotters full of confidence ahead of the game on Saturday.  

Jermaine Beckford has been declared fit to play and Leeds fans are well aware of what he is capable of. The former Leeds number 9 is Bolton's top scorer and will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome from the Elland Road faithful upon his return.

Since Bolton's relegation from the Premier League in 2012 they are yet to beat Leeds with the Whites coming out on top twice and the points being shared on the other occasion. 

Luke Varney bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win for Leeds at the Reebok earlier in the campaign and McDermott's side will be looking to secure a league double over Bolton to kick start a play-off push.

If it were up to the fans then Jimmy Kebe would probably be left out of the starting line up as he is yet to recapture the form that inspired Brain McDermott's Reading to the Premier League. 

Many fans have called for a return of Sam Byram to the starting line up as Leeds have failed to look dangerous while going forward in their last three games. 


Last meeting: September 14th 2013, Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Leeds United (Varney)
At Elland Road: January 1st 2013, Leeds United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers (Becchio)

Last five league games: Leeds United - WWLDD
Bolton Wanderers - DLDWW