YEP Jury: Anything less than three points for Leeds United at Luton Town will sow the seeds of doubt

DAVID WATKINS

Leeds travel to Luton tomorrow, the first of four consecutive games against teams in the bottom eight. The good news is, we’ve already beaten the other four!

It is vital we collect maximum points in this run of games, as much more difficult fixtures face us at the turn of the year; Fulham, Preston and West Brom in the lead up to new year for example.

The Hatters are in poor form, losing five of their last six, but the warning signs are there as the exception was a resounding 3-0 win over promotion rivals Bristol City.

Former Leeds loanee Izzy Brown is doubtful for Luton; he limped out of their defeat to Forest with a hamstring injury that kept him out of Town’s 3-0 defeat at Reading before the break.

He’s been their most creative midfielder and would be a big loss.

On current form Luton are the easiest opponent we face in the run up to Christmas so anything less than three points will sow the seeds of doubt again.

Prediction: Luton Town 0 Leeds United 1.

ANDY RHODES

Right then, back to it. While we’ve all had a couple of weeks off from league football, Marcelo Bielsa will have been meticulously planning the downfall of his next opponent.

Tomorrow will be Leeds’ first league visit to Luton since January 2008 in the dark days of League One.

Times are changing, though, with the fight now moving into the Championship. Leeds will be buoyed by Pablo Hernandez extending his contract on Tuesday, while Tyler Roberts will be hoping to impress after Wales sealed their placed at next summer’s European Championships.

As ever, though, Bielsa will keep his squad grounded, particularly with the long winter period coming up.

The Hatters have lost their last four games and have only gained eight points at home all season, but it’s often said that teams rise to the challenge against United.

Kenilworth Road is the type of ground that could intimidate most sides in this division. It’s time to see if Leeds are made of the right stuff.

Prediction: Luton Town 1 Leeds United 2.

MATTHEW EVANS

We went into the international break in good form and we come back with a run of games that look eminently winnable.

Despite our struggles with injuries, you’d expect United to have the upper hand against a Luton Town side that has conceded more goals from open play than any other in the Championship.

Trips to Kenilworth Road have been a mixed bag down the years. Tyler Denton scored the winner in our last trip, a League Cup game, but my memories are haunted by the 5-1 thrashing we received in the shortlived Johnny ‘Concrete’ Carver days in 2006.

The biggest decision for Marcelo Bielsa is whether he finds room for Pablo Hernandez following his return from injury and the pleasing announcement of his extended contract earlier in the week. Neither Helder Costa nor Tyler Roberts deserve to be dropped outright so he might have to wait with a place on the bench.

We should beat Luton tomorrow, nothing can be guaranteed of course, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could avenge that 5-1 defeat 13 years ago?

Prediction: Luton Town 1 Leeds United 5.

KEITH INGHAM

Leeds face two games ‘down south’ in the next few days. Up first are promoted Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters have not ‘ripped up’ many trees since their promotion but like all Championship teams they won’t be a pushover, this coupled with Leeds’ failure in their last two long away days will hopefully have Marcelo Bielsa’s squad on their guard.

During the break Leeds secured the services of Leif Davis and Pablo Hernandez for an extended period, very good to see that the club is continuing to look after this talented squad at Elland Road. Hernandez has been out injured recently but played in the Under-23s’ 2-0 victory over Barnsley so could be amongst the 18 tomorrow.

Davis is seen as the next impressive player to ‘roll off’ the Thorp Arch academy, one for the now and the future.

It is hard to change a winning team and I don’t think Bielsa will, unless an injury to Stuart Dallas forces him to do so. Leif Davis could be the player to come into the defence if Dallas is absent.