Leeds United V Huddersfield Town
Saturday 5th December – 15:00 GMT
English League One
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I seen the price of Leeds United on Saturday, despite them facing an inform Huddersfield Town, a team currently doing their utmost to cement their place in the top six (Play-Off positions). However, the bookies appear to have given Huddersfield far too much respect in this fixture and the 1.73 available with Bet365 will be snapped up by us and plenty of others, we are sure.
Leeds forward, Jermaine Beckford, scooped the Player of November award this week, completing a hat-trick of monthly player awards in the league for Leeds United after Beckford won it back in October and Robert Snodgrass claimed the prize in September. This just highlights the talent currently on show at the club and why they are so far ahead of the remaining teams in League One on the talent scale. In fact, like several seasons gone before, a handful of Leeds players are already being linked to moves to bigger clubs in January, Jermaine Beckford being one of them. Beckford, who has scored twelve goals this season, has been constantly linked with big money moves elsewhere but nothing concrete has ever come about, and Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, will be hoping that remains the case over the forthcoming months.
Leeds aren’t a one man show, though, with other talented individuals chipping in with noteworthy displays, performances and goals. We’ve already mentioned Robert Snodgrass, a player on the periphery of the Scotland first team, whilst some of their younger crop are starting to shine through when given the opportunity to do so by Grayson. Max Gradel, Badley Johnson, Jonny Howson and Sam vokes, have all played a key part in what has been a successful season for Leeds thus far, and we expect the success wagon to roll on this Saturday, despite Huddersfield’s best efforts to halt it.
At Elland Road, a former fortress for Leeds United back in their Premiership heyday, Leeds have yet to lose, with a record of 7-2-0. The two draws: Carlisle United 1-1, 0-0 Charlton Athletic, both decent teams in League One, although, Simon Grayson would have ideally preferred all three points in both encounters. Nevertheless, Elland Road has been the basis of a very successful campaign thus far, with Leeds notching up 21 points from a possible 27 at home this season. Their victory last weekend at home to Leyton Orient, a match they had to work their socks off to get the win they craved, meant that Leeds had won three games on the spin at Elland Road, with that success over Orient preceded with victories over Yeovil Town (4-0), and Norwich City (2-1), although the latter result came in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Jermaine Beckford is the main man at the club and, although he has scored 12 of the 35 Leeds have managed this season, he could do with another more regular goal-pitcher. Bradley Johnson has lent a helping hand with a very creditable seven for the season, but the return of Lucciano Bechhio should lift some of the expected goalscoring pressure form Beckford‘s shoulders. Becchio scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Oldham, a team they previously beat 2-0 in the FA Cup a few weeks back.
Huddersfield will be a tough proposition for Leeds as they have been a team that can score plenty of goals, with their attacking prowess resulting in them finding the goal on six more occasions than Leeds thus far, which is an incredible feat. However, 31 of those goals have all come at The Galphram stadium, home of Huddersfield, whereas just 10 have come on their travels. That statistic leaves them extremely vulnerable and exposed heading into such a happy hunting ground for their opponents and league leaders, Leeds United.
Huddersfield‘s away record is a shambles compared to their home form. Home Record: 7-3-0 (Unbeaten in the league this season), Away Record: 2-1-6 (a 67% losing ratio in away outings). It’s clear that the support of a large home crowd does them the world of good and when they don’t have home advantage, they evidentially struggle. Their usually potent attack force has only managed a mere 10 away goals in nine away outings, barely over a goal a game on the road, whilst they have shipped 15 in return. Not a dreadful defensive record but it’s a big flaw considering who they’re facing.
If this was at The Galpharm, then perhaps Huddersfield could provide Leeds with a big test, but, unfortunately, it’s not. Elland Road, just like the Galpharm has been for Town, has been a happy hunting ground and a winning resort for Leeds this season and we expect them to claim another big scalp in front of their home fans on Saturday.
Matt’s Proposed Bets
Leeds United to WIN – 1.75 Bet365
Jermaine Beckford Anytime Goalscorer – 1.83 (PaddyPower, SkyBet)
Possible Alternatives:
Leeds United/Leeds United (HT/FT Betting) – 2.80 BlueSquare
Over 2.5 Goals – 1.80 (Boylesports, SportingBet, PaddyPower)
Leeds United to Score 3 or More Goals – 3.40 PaddyPower
Match Odds:
Leeds United – 1.75 Bet365
Draw -3.60 (PaddyPower, SkyBet)
Huddersfield Town -5.50 SkyBet
Odds provided from Oddschecker. Last Updated: 11:45 (4/12)
