Johnny Howson has called for the fans to be less critical of the Leeds squad ahead of tonight’s difficult game at home to Cardiff City. The game is live on Sky and kick off is at 7.45.

After last week’s debacle at home to Leicester, Simon Grayson called for fans to be a bit more realistic about our prospects in this season, seeing as he’s had to rely on free transfers to add to the squad that won promotion.  As Leeds didn’t have a game over the weekend we have now slipped to 16th in the table, but a win tonight would take us back as high as eighth.  Howson has now backed his manager’s comments, when he spoke to the Yorkshire Post.

"If you look at us as a team who've just got promoted, rather than as Leeds United with all the expectation, we were 10th in the league, three points off the play-offs, I'd say it's not going badly at all. But we're not saying 'let's go for mid-table, let's win one then lose one all season.' There's no point setting mediocre standards. I don't think you ever feel free of expectation here. That's down to the club we're at. I've never played for a different club or known any different to Leeds United. I don't know what other fans demand of their players. But when players come here, the first thing they talk about is our fans and the expectation around the place."

Leeds have no new injury worries for tonight, but although Ben Parker and Billy Paynter both lasted 90 minutes in a reserve game last week, neither is likely to be included in the squad at this stage of their recovery. But we live in hope that Grayson will make at least one change to his starting line-up and include Bruce at the expense of Naylor or Collins. It would be frightening to watch the speedy Welshman up against our slowest pair of central defenders.

But Grayson has warned that although Bellamy might pose the biggest threat on the night, we can’t just focus on him, as Cardiff have several other decent players in their line-up.  “Bellamy is the biggest name in the Championship and was one of the biggest names in the Premiership before he went to Cardiff, but if we concentrate solely on him we will come unstuck.  Whoever plays against Bellamy has to do his best and make sure he stops him from playing. It is a big ask for all our players, who have to win their individual battles. When you look at their team, which is likely to include Bellamy, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd and McPhail, who are all household names, you know it will be a real test.”

Cardiff have no new injury problems either, and several of their players have recovered from recent injury problems.  Striker Jay Bothroyd took a heavy blow to his foot in their last game at Coventry, but should be able to start, as will Michael Chopra, who is likely to make his third start since returning from ankle ligament damage. With these two available Craig Bellamy is likely to play on the left side of midfield, having proved his fitness in Tuesday`s 2-1 win at the Ricoh Arena following knee trouble.  And Right-back Adam Matthews is back in contention after missing the Coventry game while he was on Wales Under-19 duty, but will probably have to make do with a place on the bench.

So what to predict for tonight? Given the poor quality of our defence I’m a bit fearful of how we’ll cope with the forwards that Cardiff have available, so I think we might lose this. Now come on Leeds, make me look a prat by storming to victory!

Photo: Action Images

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