Match Preview- Leeds v Middlesbrough

By Russ Vernon

Venue: Elland Road
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Date: Saturday 16th August 2014
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Team News:

Leeds United coach David Hockaday will welcome the two out of three new signings to his squad for the game with Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Billy Sharp and Liam Cooper will all come straight into the Leeds squad after arriving at Elland Road this week. While fellow new signing Giuseppe Bellusci missing out after not yet gaining international clearance. Hockaday is expected to restore a number of players to the side who were rested in midweek for the League Cup tie with Accrington. Gaetano Berardi will serve the first game of a three-match suspension for his straight red card in midweek whilst striker Steve Morison is still struggling with a calf injury. Lewis Walters and Aidy White remain sidelined through injury.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka will also include Damia Abella after he completed the signing of Barcelona defender in time for the trip to Leeds. Boro are also trying to bring in Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford in time for the game. Karanka also made a number of changes to the side for their midweek cup win over Oldham Athletic and he is expected to restore a number of those players rested back into the starting line-up. Ben Gibson is still struggling with a hamstring injury whilst former Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate will be hoping to make his first championship appearance of the season after returning from injury in midweek.

Latest Line-Ups from Previous game:

Leeds: Silvestri, Berardi, Pearce, Wootton, Warnock, Tonge, Cook, Bianchi, Ajose, Smith, Doukara.

Boro: Konstantopoulos, Hines, Woodgate, Ayala, Husband, Nsue, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Reach, Williams, Fewster

Previous Meetings
2003-04: Boro 2-3 Leeds; Leeds 0-3 Boro
2010-11: Boro 1-2 Leeds'; Leeds 1-1 Boro
2011-12: Leeds 0-1 Boro; Boro 0-2 Leeds
2012-13: Leeds 2-1 Boro; Boro 1-0 Leeds
2013-14: Leeds 2-1 Boro; Boro 0-0 Leeds

Match Prediction:

Leeds 2-1 Boro

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