Leeds hope to banish the Blues‏

By Keith Ingham

Leeds reach the middle of a three game home run hoping to put  two under par performances behind them, with lowly placed Birmingham visiting it is hoped that the team can return to winning ways.

Leeds really owe the visitors a game as both last season's matches ended in defeats, the home game being a 5-1 beating and with it the departure of Simon Grayson.



Ex Huddersfield manager Lee Clark is in charge and under pressure after a less than convincing start to the season.

Birmingham boast a number of good players, Butland, England Under 21 keeper, Hayden Mullins in midfield and Leroy Lita and Marlon King upfront with the later fresh from his three goals in midweek v Millwall. The game ended 3-3 with City coming back from 3-0.

I'm hoping that Ryan Hall and Aidy White get a chance as there was very little pace in the side v Charlton and we need to test their full backs and try to stop bypassing midfield, far too many times the
ball has been sent forward this way. We have players who can use the ball intelligently so it makes sense to use them.The goal v Sheffield Wednesday was a great example of this. By all accounts on Tuesday we could have played 4-0-2 as the midfield barely got the ball at their feet.

I'm not Neil Warnock but if I picked the team for the game v Birmingham I'd go for as follows:
The back
five picks itself, it's the midfield I'd change with in the middle Austin (if he's fit), if not Tonge, who's really surprised me with his shooting and Norris with Hall and White on the wings.

Varney might be better employed just behind Luciano Becchio  as he has struggled to make any impact on the left hand side of midfield. El Hadji Diouf might benefit from a rest and could come on if needed. I'm not the manager but a change might work.

Despite the visitors position it's a hard game and apart from last year it's usually a close one but Leeds can win it and I'm backing them to do so.

Prediction: Leeds 2 Birmingham 1 Becchio and Pearce with the goals

On On On

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