Leeds are to field a strong side at Hartlepool United, although Snodgrass will miss the game through injury.
Even though our play-off place was confirmed on Tuesday night, Simon Grayson doesn’t want any let-up for the final two league games, even though we there isn’t much at stake from the Leeds perspective. He told the official site "We're looking to finish with two more positive results to take forward to the Play-Offs. That's what I was looking for before we had this confirmed and nothing has changed. It's important we keep the momentum going and prepare ourselves right for what we hope will be three games in the Play-Offs."
In any case, he won’t have much scope for fielding a weekend team in these two games, as both Hartlepool and Northampton are still battling against relegation, and to be fair to their relegation rivals we have an obligation to take these matches seriously. Grayson said "I could make some changes, and I'd be confident we have the players to come in, but I'm also aware that if we do change things around and lose the game(s) then other people might think we have shown the in-difference to the opposition a lack of respect to the other clubs. The only way players won't play is if they have an injury or tell me they need a rest. But I can assure you there won't be too many wanting a rest in case someone steps into their shoes and does well!”
But we will be without Fabian Delph, who will complete his two game suspension, and also Robert Snodgrass, who has been troubled by an ankle problem for several weeks and badly needs to take a break. The manager said “Snod won't play He's been shut down in terms of training this week and he will start again next Monday or Tuesday in readiness for the game against Northampton”. Bradley Johnson is likely to come in as a replacement on the left hand side.
After a difficult season Hartlepool are currently 16th. in the table, four points above the dreaded drop zone. But a win tomorrow would guarantee their survival, while even a point would be enough if results elsewhere went their way. Pools skipper Ritchie Humphreys told the Hartlepool Mail he was confident that the home side could raise their game on the day. "When the bigger teams come to Victoria Park, we've held our own. It's another home game where we can get three points even if it is against one of the better teams”.
‘Director of Sport’ Chris Turner told their official site “It could be a really fantastic weekend if we get the right result. To reward the supporters who have given us great backing both home and away this season it would be great to finish off with a home victory against one of the biggest clubs in this division. I think on Saturday we will need to work hard and make sure we concentrate like we have done against the Premier League sides that have been here - it will be one of those afternoons." Hartlepool have no new injury problems, and Turner is expected to name an unchanged line-up .
It will be a testing game for Leeds, and although the boss has promised that we won’t be coasting through the game, I don’t think we’ll get anything better than a draw against a side who need the points more than we do.