Leeds United v Aston Villa: Big match preview

Key Battle - Kemar Roofe v Mile Jedinak

Roofe is starting to look like the player Leeds United thought they had signed in July and with the forward playing like he did at Anfield, Garry Monk is under less pressure to rush Pablo Hernandez back from injury. Aston Villa use the rugged frame of Jedinak as a protective midfielder in front of their defence and Roofe will not get an easy ride from him. But Liverpool did not get an easy ride from Roofe either.

Key Man - Jonathan Kodjia

Ross McCormack was the marquee signing at Villa Park in the summer but Kodjia - an expensive buy in his own right - has outshone Leeds United’s former captain, scoring seven times in 13 league appearances. He has a knack of popping up with goals at times when Villa need them and the 27-year-old is turning into a very shred purchase.

Last time at Elland Road:

Friday, December 26, 2003

Leeds United 0 Aston Villa 0

Phil Hay’s view: “Villa have the ability to do to Leeds what Newcastle did to Leeds but Garry Monk’s side are not short of form and they might find that Villa offer up more chances than Newcastle did. Better finishing and a touch more luck would have seen United through at Anfield on Tuesday and they have to be clinical against a Villa side who have come on impressively since Steve Bruce walked through the door.”

Match odds:

Home win - 13/8

Draw - 23/10

Away win - 2/1