Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers: Big match preview

Key Battle - Toumani Diagouraga v Mark Davies

Diagouraga got much the better of this contest when Leeds and Bolton met in the FA Cup in January and United will want to exert the same dominance in midfield on Saturday. Diagouraga came up with a goal at the Macron Stadium, his first in almost three years, but it was the control exerted by him and Liam Bridcutt which saw Leeds through the fourth round.

Key Man - Zach Clough

Gary Madine is Bolton’s top scorer with six goals - a tally which says everything about the club’s campaign - but he and Neil Lennon fell out recently and Madine might find himself on the fringes for the rest of the season. Clough is Bolton’s leading prospect, a 20-year-old forward who is tipped for bigger and better things, and the state of Wanderers’ finances means he is highly likely to move on to them in the summer.

Last time at Elland Road:

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Leeds United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Goals: Leeds - Warnock 17.

Phil Hay’s Verdict:

There was a time when Bolton looked like making a fist of fighting for survival but not any more. The club are too far from safety and consumed by too many problems off the field and they should be there for the taking at Elland Road. Wanderers have incurred 17 league defeats this season and have won only four times. Leeds would be well advised to take advantage and put some sizeable ground between themselves and the bottom three.

Match odds:

Home win - 10/11

Draw - 5/2

Away win - 7/2