MX23RW : Wednesday, March 26 18:27:25| >> :600:431842:431842:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Championship
Aug 30, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Bolton logo

1-0

Warnock (17')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Leeds United vs. Bolton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between troubled Leeds and winless Bolton at Elland Road.

Leeds United fans hoping for a new leaf under owner Massimo Cellino have so far been disappointed as troubles on and off the field continue to plague the club.

A new manager has already come and gone after just six matches in all competitions this season, with Dave Hockaday having his contract terminated by the club on Thursday.

A midweek defeat to Yorkshire rivals Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup proved to be the final straw for Cellino, whose initial appointment of Hockaday had raised plenty of eyebrows itself.

In truth, the news of Hockaday's sacking was not the most surprising given the bizarre events that followed Leeds's capitulation at Watford last weekend.

Cellino had decided to get rid of Hockaday following the defeat, only to make a sensational U-turn and give the new boss his backing once again.

That unconvincing vote of confidence lasted less than a week, however, as Leeds now find themselves without a manager once again, with Neil Redfearn due to take the reins for this weekend's match against Bolton Wanderers.

The hosts go into the game hovering just above the relegation zone having lost three of their opening four outings, while their solitary victory was also graced with a large slice of luck.

Hockaday's short-lived spell at this level was certainly not helped by his side's ill discipline on the field, with Leeds having had four men sent off in their six outings this season.

As a result, Luke Murphy, Sam Byram and Giuseppe Bellusci are all suspended for this weekend's match, although Gaetano Berardi is available once more having served his ban.

Souleymane Doukara remains sidelined with injury, meaning that Billy Sharp and Matt Smith are likely to start up front together again.

Caretaker boss Redfearn could hand a debut to Casper Sloth in midfield after he completed his move to the club earlier this week.

There has been less turmoil behind the scenes at Bolton, but matters on the pitch are not too much better for the Trotters.

They are the other side of the dotted line from Leeds having only managed to pick up one point from their opening four games of the season.

However, that point did come against the current league leaders Nottingham Forest, and Dougie Freedman will be hopeful that his side can conjure up a similar display to take advantage of a troubled Leeds outfit this weekend.

They do come into this match on the back of a victory having squeezed past Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday, although they did need extra time to win a dramatic match.

Jermaine Beckford may have played himself into a start against his former club having scored twice in that game, although Freedman must choose between him, Craig Davies and Joe Mason to fill the two places up front.

The Bolton manager could also be forced into making a change between the sticks after Adam Bogdan was forced off through injury last weekend.

Recent form

Leeds: LWWLLL

Bolton: LWDLLW

Possible starting lineups

Leeds: Silvestri; Wootton, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock; Austin, Sloth, Bianchi, Tonge; Sharp, Smith

Bolton: Lonergan; White, Mills, Wheater, Ream; Lee, Spearing, Kamara, Danns; Davies, Beckford

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:173633: cacheID:173633:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7625:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds boss David Hockaday gestures to players during their match with Middlesbrough on August 16, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Watford vs. Leeds
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds382311476255180
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd38257653282580
3Burnley382115252114178
4Sunderland381912755371869
5Coventry CityCoventry38178135548759
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381318748341457
7Bristol City38141594941857
8Middlesbrough38159145748954
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn38157164240252
10Watford38157164751-452
11Millwall381312133739-251
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38149155359-651
13Norwich CityNorwich381213136054649
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR381112154450-645
16Swansea CitySwansea38128183849-1144
17Portsmouth38119184661-1542
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd381012163955-1642
19Hull City381011173947-841
20Stoke CityStoke38912173751-1439
21Cardiff CityCardiff38912174262-2039
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton3898213460-2635
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth38712194077-3733


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!