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Leeds logo
Championship
Aug 8, 2015 at 12.30pm UK
 
Burnley logo

1-1

Antenucci (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Vokes (86')

Preview: Leeds United vs. Burnley

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday lunchtime's match on the opening weekend of the season as Leeds United take on Burnley.

One of two lunchtime kickoffs on the first Saturday of the new Championship season takes place at Elland Road as Leeds United take on Burnley.

The hosts have their eye on a push for the top half after four seasons of mediocrity, while Burnley want to bounce back to the top flight after lasting just one season in the Premier League.


Leeds

Uwe Rosler Manager of Wigan ahead of the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final second leg match between Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road on May 12, 2014© Getty Images

The Yorkshire club, undoubtedly one of the biggest below the Premier League, have finished 13th, 14th, 15th and 15th the last four seasons and last term was the most unsettled of the lot as Italian owner Massimo Cellino made waves.

Dave Hockaday and Darko Milanic did not last long in charge before Neil Redfearn sorted the Whites out. Cellino opted against offering Redfearn a new contract this summer and the latter decided to leave the club because his position in charge of the academy had been made "untenable".

Pre-season results have not been the best, with Saturday's 2-0 win over a weakened Everton Leeds's first victory of the summer. However, expectations are perhaps at their highest for a few years following some impressive signings.

After lifting the transfer embargo imposed in January, Rosler has spent big on Chris Wood from Leicester City, while also adding Stuart Dallas and Lee Erwin, as well as Tom Adeyemi on a season-long loan. The most important signing might be getting Sol Bamba in permanently after he impressed on loan last term.

On paper, there could be a winning formula at Elland Road and the key element of a possible push for the playoffs is the club's young core. Charlie Taylor, Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook still remain at the club and if it stays that way come the end of the transfer window, Whites fans will be ecstatic.

Rosler must also address the club's discipline - Leeds conceded a league-high 13 penalties last season.

Pre-season form: DDLLW


Burnley

Burnley's English manager Sean Dyche arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Newcastle United at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England, on December 2, 2014© Getty Images

It is back to the drawing board for the Clarets after they struggled to ever get away from the relegation scrap in the Premier League.

Goals were the biggest problem for Sean Dyche's side and they did not score manage than one goal in any of their last 14 league matches, failing to score on nine occasions.

Danny Ings did impress and both he and Kieran Trippier have gone on to bigger things in the top flight with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, while Burnley could not turn down a big offer from promotion rivals Derby for centre-back Jason Shackell.

That is three of the Lancashire side's best players gone, but they have brought in as well with Matthew Lowton and Jelle Vossen the two most significant arrivals.

Not many teams will work harder than Dyche's and he will hope that players like wingers George Boyd and Michael Kightly can thrive now that they are back in the Championship.

Burnley come into this match having won five of their seven pre-season friendlies, the last of which was a testimonial for veteran defender Michael Duff, who could yet play a big role this season depending on who is signed in the remainder of the transfer window.

Pre-season form: LWWLWW


Team News

Chris Wood in action for Leicester on December 28, 2014© Getty Images

Leeds spent around £3m to bring Wood to the club this summer and he is likely to lead the line for the home side.

Fellow new recruit Dallas may start on the left of the Kiwi striker, while further back Adeyemi should also be named in a holding role with Luke Murphy out injured.

Dyche, meanwhile, is without Trippier's right-back replacement Lowton, so Tendayi Darikwa could make his debut.

Vossen is also likely to make his Clarets bow in attack and is likely to be either Sam Vokes or Lukas Jutkiewicz that partners the Belgian up top.

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor; Cook, Adeyemi, Mowatt; Byram, Wood, Dallas

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Kightly, Arfield, Jones, Boyd; Vossen, Vokes


Head To Head

Leeds have won five of their last six home matches against the Clarets, though they lost the last clash at Elland Road in Burnley's promotion year two seasons ago.

Dyche's side won both meetings that year and there has not been a draw between these two sides in their last 18 meetings.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Leeds 2-2 Burnley

The mood at Leeds is strong, but Burnley are a tough opening-day opponent for Rosler in his first match in charge. It is hard to separate these two sides and we are sitting on the fence with a score draw.



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A general view of the Bill Bremner statue outside the ground before the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Middlesbrough at Elland Road on August 16, 2014
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