We need an improvement on our recent away form, but it won’t be easy against a resurgent Crewe Alexandra.

If Leeds are to secure a place in the play-offs we need to start winning a few games away from home, to go with the impressive run of seven consecutive victories at Elland Road. But you could say we’re improving, having drawn the last two away games after losing the previous three, and on the official site Simon Grayson is saying that our performances have deserved to produce better results. 

"I felt we were the better side at Oldham and could have won the game there, and against Bristol Rovers we should have won the game. We had it in the bag.  "On the whole, the performances have been good, we just need the results. If you keep showing that level of quality the results will come for us and I'm sure it's just around the corner."  

But tomorrow’s visit to Crewe isn’t going to be the easy game that we might have expected a couple of months ago. Like Leeds, their fortunes have improved after a change of manager took in December. The hapless Steve Holland was sacked with the Alex bottom of the table, and after Dario Gradi returned for a short caretaker spell, they appointed 53-year-old former Iceland manager Gudjon Thordarson.  And under the new boss Crewe have risen to the dizzy heights of 18^th place, thanks to a run of only one defeat in the last nine games. 

 Simon Grayson has taken note, and warns that Crewe will give us a hard time at Gresty Road. "I watched them the other night and they are a different team to that of maybe a year ago under Dario Gradi.  Crewe have been labelled as a good football team in that they like to get it down and play, but maybe they have gone a bit more direct. They have two big centre-halves, three powerful strikers and they are a handful.  It'll be a physical battle and we have to match them in that and hopefully our quality will come through. 

At least we’ll have a the benefit couple of players returning to after injury. Frazer Richardson is back after a two-month lay-off with calf and thigh problems, while Robinson returns from a hamstring injury and Hughes played in a behind-closed-doors game against Sheffield United in midweek. Hughes is likely to be named in the 16 man squad, though it might be too early for Richardson and Robinson, as the boss is reluctant to rush either of them back into action too soon. 

Up front we will of course be missing Jermaine Beckford through suspension after last week’s indiscression, so Liam Dickinson might make his first start after finally completing his loan move from Derby. But we can also expect to see Mike Grella at some stage, as the management are very please with the American’s development and the way he is adjusting to the pace of the English game.  

Meanwhile, Gudjon Thordarson is happy to play the part of underdog, but he told his club’s official site that Crewe believe they can get a result tomorrow. "Leeds are a good side, but at times this season they have found it difficult to maintain those expectations placed on them as the biggest club in the division. I have been proud of my players since I came here and they will be going into the game believing they can win.  Leeds will be looking at Crewe as a chance for three points. I am fine with that. I hope they think that because my players will up for it and have a point to prove after having a bad result at Elland Road earlier in the season."

Crewe’s biggest doubt is centre forward Calvin Zola, who strained a hamstring against Bristol Rovers in midweek. But if Zola doesn’t make it they could have a ready-made replacement to hand in the shape of leading scorer Tom Pope, who could return after missing the last six games with an ankle injury.

So how will it all turn out? I’d love to be able to predict that Leeds will get back to winning the occasional game away from home, but in view of Beckford’s absence and Crewe’s recent improvement, I think we’ll have settle for yet another draw.  

Photo: Action Images

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