Leeds United v Huddersfield Town: YEP jury predictions

JAMES HARRISON

The West Yorkshire derbies have been good for us over recent seasons. Having won 3-0 there back in November, there isn’t as much pressure on us to win the game as there is for them.

It is going to be a big mental test though, having won three games on the bounce. There have been lots of calls of a play-off charge and hopefully the players will not get carried away by that.

Even though it is a derby, they are still below us in the table and we should win the game but you never know what can happen, especially at Elland Road where we have been poor all season.

Chris Wood will probably be on the bench again, I don’t think Doukara and Antenucci deserve to be dropped but it will be a massive call for Steve Evans. You shouldn’t change a winning side but I have a feeling that Evans may make one or two.

There is a sense of optimism around Huddersfield Town at the moment. David Wagner seems to have lifted things but they are still in a relegation battle.

They have been scoring goals but they also concede a lot so it is a good chance for us to put a few in against them again.

They are definitely there for the taking but will come out with all guns blazing hoping to score an early goal then sit back.

There should be a decent crowd as we all seem to enjoy playing Huddersfield a lot more recently, we have given them some real thumpings, it has been great to be a part of. Liam Bridcutt was tremendous last week, there has been calls for him to be the first signing in the summer and I fully agree.

He has been outstanding since he signed on loan and has really steadied the ship as we were conceding lots of goals. He and Toumani Diagouraga work perfectly together, they can both defend and are really good on the ball.

Their threats come from their flanks.

Sean Scannell and Joe Lolley are tricky players at this level but if we shut them out, they won’t be able to feed Nahki Wells who has been scoring goals for fun this season.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Huddersfield Town 0.

KEITH INGHAM

If you’d have told most Leeds United fans that we would be facing our nearest, but not so dearest near neighbours Huddersfield Town on the back of a three-win run, they may have advised you may have needed psychological help, but remember this is Leeds we’re talking about.

Leeds’ recent record at Elland Road against Town is impressive, a never-to-be-forgotten 5-1 victory the day Brian McDermott was sacked then reinstated the Monday after, then last season Leeds staged one of their best performances of the season in a empathic 3-0 win.

The biggest problem Steve Evans has is over confidence, Leeds without doubt have their ‘tails up’ but before Huddersfield lost to leaders Burnley they were playing good football, or so their fans I know have been saying to me.

He (Evans) will have to decide if to split up the ‘Ant and Douk’ partnership up and restore Chris Wood to the frontline, I wouldn’t.

Another player for me has also had a massive impact on the upturn of fortunes – Gaetano Berardi. His return to the defence makes it look more solid.

It looks like a 30,000 crowd will witness another hard fought game, I’m very hopeful of a fourth win.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Huddersfield Town 1.

DAVID WATKINS

It looks as though a big crowd will gather at Elland Road for the visit of Huddersfield this weekend, no doubt mostly interested to see if Leeds can continue their march up the Championship table with a fourth consecutive victory.

Recent history suggests Leeds ought to do it, having beaten the Terriers in the previous four encounters home and away including 3-0 wins in the previous two games. While Leeds have won their last three games, Huddersfield have lost three of their most recent four, so current form is also on Leeds’ side.

With so much positivity surrounding the club at the moment it would be very typical of Leeds to come crashing down to earth in this one but if they don’t and they add another three points to their haul we’ll all be doing those play-off calculations! Surely it’s not possible…is it?

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Huddersfield Town 0.

MATTHEW EVANS

If everything goes our way tomorrow we can be nine points from the play-offs with a game in hand, closer than at any point since the turn of the year.

It goes to show, yet again, how much a string of good results can completely transform a club’s league position in a division as tight and unpredictable as this.

The team have pulled themselves together admirably since Brighton but our home results have been almost exclusively reliant on us grinding out wins against mediocre teams with mediocre performances.

Hopefully, Evans can put that right in this West Yorkshire derby and make it four in four.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Huddersfield Town 0.

STEPHEN CLARK

Local pride is at stake tomorrow lunchtime as Leeds take on Huddersfield Town in a West Yorkshire derby.

A 3-0 win at Huddersfield was one of the highlights of the campaign with Alex Mowatt’s strike for the third is a real contender for goal of the season.

Matches against the Terriers are often incident-packed and Leeds will be looking to continue their recent good form. However I’m still struggling to find much enthusiasm for games at Elland Road.

Results may have eased the pressure on owner Massimo Cellino, but the long-term future of the club is still of more importance to me than a end of season win over a local rival.

Having said that, I would like to see Leeds maintain their upsurge tomorrow, if only to keep the annoying Town fan at work back in his box for another year.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Huddersfield Town 2.

GARY NEWBOULD

A Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town is next in store for United as they look to make it four league wins in a row and present the Football League with a real quandary on why not to award The Manager of the Month accolade for March to coach Steve Evans.

United lie five points better off than the Terriers, having played a game fewer, so victory at LS11 would almost cement West Yorkshire bragging rights for this season.

I would fully expect a similar team and squad to the one which performed so well as Ewood Park, let’s hope for a similar result.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Huddersfield Town 1.