Leeds United v Derby County
Saturday 21st September 1230hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Leeds to win to nil
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 6/4 (odds taken 21.00 GMT, Friday 20 September)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41/100 | 41/10 | 133/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on September 19, 2019 at 21.00)
Leeds and Derby have plenty of recent history and get a chance to renew acquaintances on Saturday as the leaders will be looking to heap further frustration on their visitors who have struggled for wins so far this season.
English Championship Betting at Betvictor
Leeds United Preview – Can Championship leaders move further ahead of chasing pack with win over an old foe?
There was no getting away from just how big a disappointment Leeds as a club suffered back in May when being eliminated at the semi-final stage of the playoffs. Defeat to a Derby team then managed by Frank Lampard was a real body blow considering the position the Elland Road club found themselves in in the tie. Marcelo Biela’s men were unable to see that out though, compounding their throwing away of a commanding position for automatic promotion just weeks before. At the time it was uncertain whether or not Leeds would be after a new manager. Fast forward a few months and it’s a much better perspective for all connected with Leeds. Bielsa chose to stay on for a second season and his team sit top of the Championship after seven games.
Last weekend’s win away to Yorkshire rivals Barnsley combined with Swansea’s first defeat allowed Leeds to go top. It was the perfect response coming out the international break, one they went into having lost at home to Swansea. This season’s objective is very clear and that’s to win promotion to the Premier League. The biggest danger to that at the moment is their form at Elland Road. It’s just one win in three games at home compared to a 100% record on the road. Saturday represents an opportunity to improve their record at home.
Derby County Preview – Will Derby ignite their season at the ground where they secured a big playoff win in the previous campaign?
Despite winning that dramatic playoff semi-final, it’s been Derby County who have underwent a lot of change in the time since. A disappointing performance in the playoff final against Aston Villa consigned Derby to another season in the Championship and was also Lampard’s last game in charge having been appointed manager of Chelsea. The Rams have brought in Philip Cocu as boss but it’s been a slow start for the Dutchman despite the initial excitement about his arrival. That excitement was predicated on Cocu’s success with PSV but he himself is on something of a recovery mission following a sacking at Galatasaray.
Cocu is vastly experienced in the game and will not have been under any illusions as to the challenge that faced him, but he certainly knows how difficult life is in the Championship. A win away to Huddersfield on the opening weekend of the season remains their only victory of the campaign. Since then they have drawn three and lost three and find themselves in the bottom half of the table. A trip to Elland Road could bring about the change in their season they need.
Key-Facts – Leeds United v Derby County
- It’s been a positive response to failing to win promotion last season for Leeds who now find themselves top following last weekend’s win
- It’s been a difficult start for Philip Cocu as Derby boss and he will be hoping that an occasion such as this can spark improvement
- Scottish club Rangers and Feyenoord from the Eredivise are the other two clubs within this section
Leeds United v Derby County Betting Advice
Looking at these fixtures at the beginning of the season and many would have seen this as being a clash between two teams going for promotion. That may well still prove to be the case but going into the game there are already nine points between the two clubs. Indeed depending on results this weekend Derby could find themselves in the bottom three.
Leeds will only be concerned with getting the points they need to stay on top but that means improving their home record. The 1-0 win over Brentford is their only success at Elland Road so far this season and that came with a goal in the last minute. There other two games have seen a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and a 1-0 defeat against Swansea. Derby’s away form has been poor since that win at Huddersfield and they have failed to score in their last two. A home win looks the most likely outcome and take them to do it without conceding.
