Hearts 0 Leeds United 1: Reaction and recap from final friendly with key pair off injured
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Daniel Farke’s Whites are now just one week away from the start of the new Championship season which sees Leeds host Cardiff City next Sunday for their 2023-24 curtain-raiser. Farke got one last look at his side in competitive action in Sunday afternoon’s clash in Edinburgh in which a Luke Ayling strike forced an own goal which gave the the Whites a 1-0 victory. But the win came at a cost for United who lost two key players to injury. Here is our reaction and recap.
Hearts 0 Leeds United 1: Reaction and recap
Key Events
- 3pm kick-off at Tynecastle Park
- Final pre-season friendly
- Championship season starts next Sunday at home to Cardiff
Karl Darlow, announced last night at 6.30pm. This is what he said on his immediate focus over the next week....
“Get some good training in, get to know the lads. Obviously we have the game on Sunday so I am not sure what my involvement will be in that but obviously I will go along with what the manager thinks and I am just looking forward to settling in and getting ready for the start of the season.”
Huge confidence in Leeds
Hearts and Leeds were 6-4 joint favourites for today’s friendly when betting opened yesterday but the Whites are now odds on with a few firms and no bigger than evens. Hearts are now 12-5. Farke has made a specifiic call for another good result today to build momentum although Hearts will obviously want the same. Still, it’s an interesting move.
Hearts team
Clark, Atkinson, Kingsley, Kent, Rowles, Haring, Oda, Nieuwenhof, Shankland, Forrest, Grant. Subs: McGovern, Stone, Sibbick, Devlin, Neilson, Halliday, Cochrane, Smith, Denholm, Wilson.
Leeds team
Leeds United v Hearts: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Hjelde, Ampadu, Gray, Summerville, James, Sinisterra, Rutter.