Leeds - Doncaster Rovers ... Preview

Today sees the chance for Leeds to go some way towards rectifying a poor past week that saw two results go the oppositions way from the jaws of victory, as well as a Liberty Stadium lesson against Swansea. The first key week of this year on the way towards the run-in all but put pay to Leeds' automatic ambitions and now the club must focus on consolidating their current position inside the play-offs amidst challenges being mounted by Leicester, Burnley and possibly even Hull.

The visitors are Doncaster Rovers, currently decimated by injury problems and surely not hopeful of a trip to Elland Road despite a good result in midweek beating Derby 1-3 despite their extraordinary injury list. For most Leeds fans this fixture will mirror the Barnsley one of last week in regards expectations and the fact it is a derby. The expectations, however, may not follow through in the result as that game went a long way to showing after three points were thrown away, again.

The Return of Bradley Johnson

It took the Swansea game for the majority of Leeds fans to realise just how key Johnson is to our successes. He's consistently borne the brunt of criticism for the past couple of years for his lack of technical ability and his frustrating lack of intelligence in some of his play but the role he fulfills in the Leeds setup cannot be underestimated. He is the only player the club has that resembles a dogged midfielder that can put himself about and break up play - his athleticism is a massive asset. A 4-4-2 would not work without his inclusion, and was duly crippled by Kilkenny's presence or lack thereof last week as Leeds fans watched on in utter despair.

The Return of the 4-5-1?

Most will be expecting Simon to revert to this season's preferred formation, but it may not be what everyone sees as effective. In its recent incarnations it hasn't provided any improvement in defensive stability, against Norwich and Barnsley, although the 4-4-2 provided nothing in the way of creativity against Swansea, albeit against a very strong side and on an off day for most of the Leeds eleven.

With a return for Johnson in place of Kilkenny, and retaining Somma up top, the 4-4-2 can work - especially against a team that is up against it in the table and struggling with injury - one we'd be expected to beat.

Show some heart, please.

Hopefully the squad have had chance this week to have a glance over at what was probably the worst and most gutless performance of the season so far. Not only were Leeds outplayed, we were outrun and that can't be justified. If a side is being outclassed in terms of the football, it doesn't give anybody an excuse to sit back and accept it. Fighting spirit, effort and determination is something that should always be on show.

Jonny Howson reacted post match: 

"Any time a defeat is hard to take," 

"We weren't at it, we never got going and against a very good side. It can happen like it did on Saturday. They are a very good side, they played very well and some of their stuff you have to hold your hands up. 

"Some of our play at times was disappointing and not to the standards we know we can play. We'll have to have a look at it. You think about your own performance and think what could I have done? You can ask loads of questions. 

"But you have to take it on the chin, put it down as a bad performance and move on to Saturday."

Kilkenny was subject, rightly, to much criticism last week after his anaemic effort in midfield on Saturday. Grayson needs to have a good look at what he brings to the side, and after a performance like his last, it should be far from out of the question that he's dropped and the 4-4-2 is retained or someone else willing to put a full shift in is included in his place.

Sean O'Driscoll has reiterated his admirance of the Aussie this week, so he can't have watched our last outing too carefully... 

"We have always liked Neil and, unfortunately, we couldn’t quite get him,” 

“Every time he is out of the side, we always make a cheeky enquiry just in case. He is one of those who wants to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and make his team play.”

The other player who needs to show major signs of improvement to win back the Elland Road faithful is George McCartney. Since arriving for his second loan spell he has seemed far from gutsy in respect to the defensive side of his game, with his body language being worryingly bothered by errors, some his, that have cost the side sloppy goals. McCartney was brought in to add Premier League experience to a side challenging for promotion and it hasn't really been on show, notably against Swansea last week where Dyer made him look like a Sunday league player with his backing off, which got them a penalty in the end after Gradel was forced to make a challenge. Ben Parker is in the wings and in all honesty, couldn't have done any worse than McCartney did last week.

Rovers "Rivalry"

VivaRovers excellent preview of the fixture touches on something that I have personally noticed in Doncaster fans that I know. Our promotion push in 2008, which ended in both sides meeting at Wembley and ultimately Doncaster achieving promotion, has led to many Rovers fans adopting Leeds as the club they love to hate. Tuesday's game at Pride Park heard chants of "Bring on the Leeds scum" from Rovers supporters and frankly there's absolutely no reason for this hatred to be the case - Leeds fans find it inconsequential that it was Doncaster who beat us at Wembley. 

The two clubs aren't, and never have been long-term rivals. The game is a Yorkshire derby, but really doesn't mean much more to most fans (in the same vain as Barnsley, Huddersfield and Hull), bar those who are waiting in the wings to gloat to friends of the opposing side, should one or the other manage a win - though this is true of any game.

The widely perceived Leeds arrogance is also a subject in question. Leeds fans, on the whole, do not abide by this stereotyped view. The club has spent three seasons in League One, and the majority of the support is acutely aware of where we currently stand on the ladder of English football. Confusion between harking back on the club's history and arrogance is something that does annoy. Leeds throughout their past have not been used to playing at the same level as "TheLikesOfDoncaster" as VivaRovers likes to put it and this is unquestionably true. It doesn't, however, mean that Leeds expect to waltz past anyone seen to be "less illustrious" - although taking League position, form, injuries and current playing staff into account, Leeds would be posed as favourites for today's game.

Any tinge of arrogance that Leeds fans may have harbored have been quashed by recent experiences and realisation that we can't currently compete financially or on the pitch with some of our current divisional rivals let alone those widely regarded as our traditional rivals, such as Manchester United, in the Premier League. Our recent Ridsdale past continues to haunt us.

Doncaster

Being only one of three sides to concede more than Leeds this season (since the turn of the year they've shipped 25), Doncaster must be wary of our goal threat as we're currently the division's most prolific scorers. Defensively though they'll be encouraged and Leeds should themselves be wary with Billy Sharp in form but struggling with a hernia problem. 

Their injury list is extensive, and has at times ruled fourteen first team members out of action. As of now Neil Sullivan, Adam Lockwood, James O’Connor, James Chambers, Mustapha Dumbuya, Martin Woods, Steve Brooker and Jason Euell will all miss out on facing Leeds, while Sharp, Hayter and Coppinger are all still struggling to be fit in time.

Prediction: Leeds 3-1 Doncaster

Despite Leeds' current defensive suicidal tendencies, Doncaster's injury list should significantly reduce their competitiveness. Despite putting three past Derby in midweek, Leeds should be capable of putting on a more challenging display and with Snodgrass and Gradel both available and in form to torment them as opposed to earlier this season, Doncaster may unbuckle at the back with what Sean O'Driscoll has at his disposal given their current availability crisis.

Leeds need to be wary of Doncaster being as "up for it" as Barnsley were last Tuesday. Anything other than full effort from each of the players for the full 90 minutes won't be enough as Donny will be do their utmost to get a result out of this one.

Team News

Leeds

Connolly still out, but back in training - could return on Tuesday at Preston.

Sam out with a virus.

Doncaster

Neil Sullivan, Adam Lockwood, James O’Connor, James Chambers, Mustapha Dumbuya, Martin Woods, Steve Brooker and Jason Euell will all miss out on facing Leeds, while Sharp, Hayter and Coppinger are all still struggling to be fit in time.

Ben Alnwick, who came as cover for a month earlier this season to Elland Road, has joined this week as goalkeeping cover during Sullivan's absence.