Leeds United v Brentford: YEP jury predictions

MIKE GILL

The wonderful tactical success against Reading was made even sweeter by Jaap Stam’s bizarre rant against the Leeds fans in The Daily Mirror.

This proves how potent a force our fans can be when they are at their raucous, noisiest best. Very few managers admit that the opposing fans have got under their skin and very few teams have fans who are capable of causing this effect.

To have 77 per cent of the possession is impressive but what everyone at Elland Road witnessed was that much of this possession took place within 15 yards of Reading’s own penalty area.

This was why your players were being mocked by the home fans Mr Stam. Dress it up any way you like but Reading came looking for a draw and kept on playing that way even when they went behind.

Tomorrow we welcome Brentford. They are managed by Dean Smith who has been in the job for 12 months and is trying to recreate the success that the club enjoyed under Mark Warburton and Uwe Rossler. He is having only limited success in this regard, with a win ratio of 30-odd percent.

In recent games, after a four- match losing streak, the Bees recovered by beating Burton Albion at home last Saturday and squeezing past Bristol City 1-0 away on Tuesday night. Therefore they are bound to pose a threat.

Our last meeting with them was at Griffin Park last January and ended in a 1-1 draw, the scorer for Leeds that day was Mustapha Carayol.

The Leeds team to face the Bees this time around will be unrecognisable from those who drew at Griffin Park.

Our current ‘manager’ is also a very different prospect to the earnest but tactically naive Steve Evans.

The current Leeds squad is, of course, more than capable of beating Brentford at Elland Road and should do so.

It will be very interesting to see whether Liam Bridcutt starts and whether Chris Wood and indeed Marcus Antonsson will be available. However trust Garry Monk the Master Tactician to come up with a line-up and plan that will do the business whatever the team is and send us into the Christmas break with a smile on our faces.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Brentford 1.

KEITH INGHAM

Tuesday’s night’s victory was earned through hard work and in no small way to the crowd’s efforts urging their team towards the finish line.

The 2-0 win over third-placed Reading put Leeds back amongst the ‘play-off six’ and although the away side had the lion’s share of possession they did little to trouble Rob Green’s goal. Indeed, Pontus Jansson’s injury-time block on the line was the only occasion they looked like they might get past a resolute Leeds rearguard.

After playing two of the ‘fancied’ teams we face a Brentford team that has caused us problems before and they cannot and shouldn’t be taken any differently than the top teams we’ve played recently.

They may sit below us in the Championship, but they beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Tuesday and have Scott Hogan who has 13 goals to his credit; he can cause any defence to have sleepless nights. A useful squad too. Leeds’ problems, injury wise, could deepen if, as expected, 14-goal striker Chris Wood is absent. Options up front are severely limited and Marcus Antonsson may be given Wood’s advanced role.

I’m pretty sure though that the midfield battle will be won by the team wearing white.

Many people will be putting this down as a ‘banker’ home win, but where will the goals come from if Wood is absent?

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Brentford 1.

DAVID WATKINS

I think it’s probably because we’ve forgotten what it’s like, but every win we get seems to make the next match all the more important. If we then face a top side, the tendency is to think we’ll not be up to the challenge and if we face a struggling side we think we’ll slip on the proverbial banana skin! This weekend we face Brentford, a side eight places but only seven points below us.

The importance of another Leeds win though is not in doubt. To go into Christmas on the back of seven wins in nine games would be a pressie to satisfy even the most fickle Leeds fan.

Brentford go into this game on the back of two wins but prior to that suffered four defeats on the spin including a 5-0 hammering at stuttering Norwich. The Bees have scored and conceded 27 league goals this season which, funnily enough, is the same as Reading. I doubt there will be much to separate the teams but, if we are the real deal, it is another one we need to win.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Brentford 1.

GARY NEWBOULD

After a great midweek home victory over Reading which showed significant amounts of guts and organisation United return to LS11 when they entertain Brentford. Following their heroics last year the Bees appear to have lost a little of their sting and currently reside some seven points and eight places worse off than the Whites.

However after losing five on the bounce they have won their last two fixtures, so complacency (as ever in this division) should not be a feature, Kalvin Phillips will be eligible following his one-game suspension, however the loyal hordes will be more concerned about the probable absence of Chris Wood due to injury. A win would make a fantastic early Christmas present for all at LS11 and further cement United’s place in the Championship play-off places at the start of the hectic festive period.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Brentford 1.

STEPHEN CLARK

The visit of Brentford to Elland Road tomorrow gives Leeds United a real chance to consolidate their position in the top six of the Championship and send the fans into Christmas with a real festive feeling.

After beating Reading on Tuesday, in one of the strangest games of football I have ever seen, Garry Monk will be hoping to have some bodies back to bolster a squad which is showing some signs of wear and tear.

Hopefully they will be strong enough to get past the Londoners, and with a real belief of new ownership being in place for the January transfer window, the future is looking bright for Leeds United.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Brentford 0.

MATTHEW EVANS

Garry Monk’s tactics were right on the money on Tuesday night and, just when you thought the guy couldn’t get any more popular, he provoked Jaap Stam into a hilarious hissy fit just by winning the game.

The effort and desire from the United players is a joy to see after so many years of teams in white not seeming to care.

We’ve had a very difficult run with six games including four against teams above us in the league. On paper, these next two look winnable but the danger is any sort of complacency creeping in to the squad’s tired legs.

It will be another spirited crowd tomorrow and they should see a Leeds win.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Brentford 0.