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Match Preview: Sunderland v Leeds United - Can Depleted Whites Maintain Their Unbeaten Streak?
Saturday, 19th Aug 2017 15:56 by @LucasMonk_

Following goalless draws at home to Preston North End and Fulham respectively in their last two outings, Leeds United have today embarked for Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in pursuit of a second league victory of the season.

Tuesday’s match–though akin to the encounter with Preston in that it was bereft of goals–saw Leeds United produce a performance that was of a greater standard comparative to that which they produced the previous Saturday. Fulham enjoyed a hegemony of the first 20 minutes of the contest but United would claw their way back into the match with diligence and application. Though his team could not conjure the requisite goal to win the game, the hard-earned point ensured that Thomas Christiansen enters today’s match having not yet been inured to defeat in a competitive match since his arrival at Elland Road in June.

It would be axiomatic for one to opine that Leeds have begun life under the tutelage of Christiansen unremarkably–though their start to this season, which has seen them accrue five points from three matches, could also be described as having been a steady one. The club’s acquisitions in the transfer market are beginning to attune themselves to the rigours of England’s second-tier and the team’s performances have been indicative of the fact that United are undergoing, at present, a phase of transition.

Yesterday evening, however, was to bring with it unpleasant news. It was reported by several outlets including the Daily Mirror that–after lengthy speculation–Burnley have concluded an arrangement that will see Leeds’ talismanic forward, Chris Wood, depart the club for a fee in the region of £15,000,000 in addition to add-on clauses. Wood, 25, was the scorer of no less than 30 goals in all competitions last season and is in the eyes of many a beholder a fundamentally integral to any success that United may record in the near future. The development has plunged the club’s supporters into acute division, with some postulating that the sale represents a dearth of ambition on the part of the Leeds hierarchy and others claiming that if it is the player’s wish to depart then the club are correct to accede to his demands. Wood is anticipated to undergo a medical examination tomorrow, prior to the completion of the transfer next week.

Burnley have requested for Wood to be omitted from the United matchday squad for today’s match, and the absence of the New Zealand international most certainly increases the chances of a Sunderland victory. The Black Cats would doubtless have already thought themselves to possess a high chance of defeating Leeds in front of their own supporters, and United will now face an arduous battle this afternoon if they are to build on their stable beginning to the season.

Sunderland, who are now notably coached by former Leeds manager Simon Grayson, will pose to Leeds a stern test. Having been subject to copious amounts of derision in the wake of a humbling 5-0 loss to Scottish Premiership Champions Celtic in their final pre-season fixture, the Wearside club–much like United–have basked in an undefeated start to the season following their recent relegation from the Premier League. Thus far, Sunderland have recorded results that are as follows: a 1-1 draw at home to Derby County; a 1-0 win away to Bury in the Carabao Cup; a 3-1 victory away to Norwich City; and a 1-1 draw away to Sheffield Wednesday.

Furthermore, the squad at the Stadium of Light boasts the names of seasoned professionals such as the Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady, Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri and the the tough-tackling midfielder Lee Cattermole; the finesse of McGeady and Khazri in particular is a potent threat that Leeds will be tasked with neutering come kick-off. One of few teams in the division to employ the 4-4-2 formation, Sunderland favour exploitation of the wide areas with McGeady, Khazri and George Honeyman responsible for supplying ammunition to forwards Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan.

It could be plausibly argued that this match is among the toughest United will face all season and, having now been seemingly deprived of their single foremost offensive threat, Christiansen’s charges will face an almighty battle to keep intact their undefeated sequence of results.

Team News

Sunderland

There remain a smattering of injuries that plague the Sunderland squad at present.

Youthful attackers Josh Maja and Duncan Watmore shall be absent through injury, as will defender Paddy McNair.

Costa Rican full-back Brian Oviedo and former Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell could make their first appearances of the season; the two featured in a recent Under-23’s fixture so as to aid them in returning to full fitness.

Manager Simon Grayson has deployed an unchanged starting lineup in each of the Black Cats’ opening three matches in the Championship–he is widely anticipated to remain true to this approach.

Leeds United

In light of recent speculation linking him with a £15,000,000 departure for Burnley, striker Chris Wood is expected to be omitted from United’s matchday squad. Caleb Ekuban could, then, make his second start of the season after scoring in Leeds’ 4-1 Carabao Cup triumph over Port Vale on the 9th of the month.

Defenders Gaetano Berardi (shoulder) and Matthew Pennington (ankle) remain sidelined with injury.

Central defender Liam Cooper could return to the starting lineup after missing Tuesday’s home match against Fulham through injury.

Match Details

Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland (49,000).

Coverage: The match is to be broadcast on Sky Sports Football but developments can also be followed via BBC Radio Leeds. Full match commentary is available on the latter, with the match scheduled to begin at 17:30pm.

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Match Facts

Sunderland have won three of their last four league matches against Leeds, drawing once.

Leeds have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 17 away league matches. They last went on a longer run without an away shutout in February 2013 (19 games).

The last Leeds victory over Sunderland came in December 2004 with goals from Aaron Lennon, Brian Deane and Julian Joachim securing a 3-2 victory at the Stadium of Light.

Star Men

Sunderland: Aiden McGeady

The fleet-footed Glasgow-born winger signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light to bring about a reunion with Simon Grayson, who had been his manager at Preston North End last season. Having netted eight goals in 38 league appearances for North End last season, McGeady has shown great haste to make an impactful contribution in Sunderland colours–he has already scored his inaugural goal for the club in addition to laying on another two for his teammates. The 31-year-old has revived his career having relegated himself to the second-tier in search of regular football, and he is promptly establishing himself as a prominent figure at his latest employer.

Leeds United: Caleb Ekuban

In the absence of Chris Wood, it is highly probable that the 23-year-old forward will receive only a second start in the white of Leeds United since his move from Chievo Verona in July. Having already scored and assisted in an excellent display during the Whites’ 4-1 Carabao Cup decimation of Port Vale, Ekuban will doubtless be eager to attempt establish himself as a key figure at Elland Road with another impressive performance.

Writer’s Verdict

Without the merest shadow of a doubt, this will be a fixture matched by few in terms of difficulty. The Stadium of Light will be, for all teams that visit it, a venue of considerable intimidation throughout the season and I cannot envisage the Black Cats suffering very many defeats on their own soil.

Managed by a man of vast experience and gravitas–and with a squad that bears a fine blend of youth and experience–I have no qualms concerning Sunderland’s credentials as a side challenging for a play-off berth. They are a strong, cogent outfit who may not secure an immediate return to the Premier League but who will, most certainly, give their beleaguered supporters cause for hope.

I cannot countenance a Leeds victory in the absence of Chris Wood. He has been a talismanic figure, our most prominent attacking threat and our most salient asset. With United starved of his firepower, from where will the goals come? He will most certainly depart, and an adequate replacement must be secured speedily.

I fear our unbeaten start is now imperiled to collapse this afternoon. We are not yet in the midst of a crisis, but the loss of Wood must be compensated for by the arrival of a striker capable of scoring the goals we require to mount an assault on the division’s upper reaches.

Prediction: Sunderland 2-0 Leeds United

Photo: Action Images



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