Leeds United v Burton Albion: YEP Jury verdicts

MATTHEW EVANS

Tomorrow’s attendance will be higher than it might have been had United not rescued a PR coup from the jaws of disaster on Tuesday night.

By 8pm, a much changed United side had spent 15 minutes on the back foot and were already one goal down. Meanwhile, outside Elland Road, queues were snaking around the ticket office after a late rush for cheap tickets, the price of which could have been an early clue to the frustratingly unfamiliar nature of the starting XI.

What followed was one of those nights that will live long in the memory.

United and Elland Road came alive shortly before half-time and took the game to Norwich. As it happened, those stuck outside for the opening exchanges were spared the worst of United’s performance and comfortably through the turnstiles in time to see a spirited and dramatic effort to haul Leeds into the quarter-finals.

That sort of adrenaline-fuelled evening should have fans flocking to Elland Road for more of the same against Burton. The seasoned supporter might call upon past experience and expect United to follow that sort of result with a lacklustre draw or defeat but there is a sense that this group of players is different.

Most of the first team took a rest on Tuesday night and avoided the entirety of a punishing 120 minutes that saw nearly everyone, to a man, drop to the ground with fatigue at the final whistle. Garry Monk is also setting higher and higher standards for his players and won’t settle for anything less than full commitment tomorrow.

The satisfaction of beating a much-fancied Norwich side with our second string will have confidence flowing through the squad and we now know that we can call on those backup players to give the same level of performance as those in the first team. Souleymane Doukara, Liam Cooper and Marco Silvestri made strong claims for more game time and it felt as though Gaetano Berardi had never been away.

A win against Burton should be on the cards to carry United closer to the play-offs, another date with Norwich and with a quarter-final trip to Anfield on the calendar.

It’s all looking far rosier than it has for some time.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burton Albion 0.

KEITH INGHAM

Astounding, incredible, fantastic!

Just some of the words that describe the events of Tuesday night when after going behind twice and down to 10 men for the extra-time period, Leeds still found enough in the ‘locker’ to get past Norwich City 3-2 on penalties after the game had ended 2-2 after extra-time. This group of players have found something special when faced with adversity. Quite apt that the night we remembered a great goalkeeper (Gary Sprake) another (Marco Silvestri) was part of the reason we progressed.

A quarter-final with Liverpool at Anfield awaits.

Burton are managed by Nigel Clough and have equipped themselves well for their first season in the Championship. They have a number of players that Leeds need to be wary of, Lloyd Dyer being just one of them. Albion sit just below Leeds in 15th place with 17 points, with four wins, five draws and five defeats in the 14 games played.

I don’t expect any changes, from the side that faced Wolves but Silvestri’s heroics in the penalty shootout may give Garry Monk ‘food for thought’. Boosted by the superb EFL Cup performance I hope that the feeling can be carried over and three points can be gained to finish a brilliant seven days for Leeds.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burton Albion 0.

DAVID WATKINS

After the excitement and ultimate euphoria of the EFL Cup we get back to the task of piling on some league points against Burton.

Making eight changes on Tuesday, most of the side will be well rested, albeit Wood, Sacko and Phillips also had time from the bench. If we are able to recall Pablo Hernandez then I’d expect us to have too much for Burton if we can put together another solid defensive game and create a few chances.

Burton will not roll over for us though and I’d also expect the game to be close and to turn on one or two moments; a chance here and there, a mistake or a moment of brilliance; every Championship game seems to be like that. Burton have not won away in the league this season despite playing few of the better Championship sides on their travels yet. Their home record is excellent though suggesting they prefer the sub 7,000 crowds at the Pirelli. Make some noise Leeds fans; I’d guess they don’t like it up em and let’s hope our good home form doesn’t go … for a Burton!

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burton Albion 1.

GARY NEWBOULD

After the midweek penalty heroics with ten men, United return to Leeds action with Burton Albion visiting LS11 for the very first time. The Brewers, once again managed by Clough “junior” have had a steady start since last season’s promotion and currently reside in midtable and are just three points worse off than the Whites. With forthcoming league matches against Norwich, Newcastle United and Brighton and a League cup quarter-final looming it would be all too easy to take our eyes of the ball here, but given Clough’s good record against United and the visitors having suffered only one defeat in their last five matches it would be foolish to do so and could risk the three points “going for a Burton”! Coach Monk has some selection headaches of a positive variety given that several fringe team players took advantage of their chance on Tuesday evening.

If the right application is mixed with the desire that was so evident earlier in the week then United should hopefully cement their position in the league’s top ten by 5pm on Saturday.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Burton Albion 2.

STEPHEN CLARK

Leeds meet Burton Albion on the crest of a wave after the EFL Cup win over Norwich. The fans and players celebrating together was great to see and only highlights how special things could be.

Tomorrow’s a great chance to continue the momentum when Burton visit Elland Road for the first time. Nigel Clough’s side are no pushovers at home but are a different proposition on the road. Like the Wigan game, this is one Leeds need to win if they are to be genuine promotion contenders. Garry Monk will have the option of bringing back rested players, but the strength of the squad is now being shown. Home games are now ones I expect us to win, and I’m sure the unbeaten run at Elland Road will continue.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burton Albion 0.

MIKE GILL
After the pulsating excitement of Tuesday night, Leeds face the footballing conundrum that is Burton Albion.

The Brewers have made a creditable start to the season, their most recent result being the win against Birmingham and they looked pretty good in this televised game.

However, despite a few draws, they are yet to win away from home, so this game is set up as a potential ‘banana skin’ for Leeds.

Nevertheless, Monk’s men are made of sterner stuff than recent United sides and I expect them to carry on winning.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burton Albion 0.