Leeds United v Millwall: Excellent December in danger of becoming a January horror show - YEP jury

'˜Must win' appears to be the consensus among the Yorkshire Evening Post jurors this week ahead of Leeds United's Championship encounter with Millwall at Elland Road.
Leeds may find former forward Steve Morison a bit of a handful when Millwall come to town.Leeds may find former forward Steve Morison a bit of a handful when Millwall come to town.
Leeds may find former forward Steve Morison a bit of a handful when Millwall come to town.

Keith Ingham

Before I start, the brother of Gary Newbould has informed me that the funeral of the popular Leeds United supporter and YEP juror is on Thursday, January 25 at noon.

On Tuesday, Andrea Radrizzani released a statement on his Twitter feed that ‘all will be explained in February’. By then Leeds’ faltering hopes of challenging for a play-off place will probably be gone for this season.

Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.
Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.
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It’s such a shame that decisions made NOW will probably mean another season in the Championship. Recruitment in January is not only necessary, it’s vital. That is if the owner of Leeds is really serious about promotion in 2018.

This weekend an in-form Millwall will again test this Leeds team at Elland Road.

They’ve already beaten Leeds once this season and will be determined to do it again. Steve Morison will lead their line and is in goal-scoring form.

I would like to see Thomas Christiansen venture away from his preferred formation and play two central strikers and give Stuart Dallas a run.

Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.
Fans are hopeful Stuart Dallas will make a return to action at some stage against Millwall at Elland Road.
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With Saiz and O’Kane suspended, it is hoped that Ronaldo Vieira is fit.

The midfield numbers are dwindling, meaning the other option, if Ronny isn’t fit, is either Klich, Anita or Shaughnessy.

The disappointing Borthwick-Jackson has returned to Manchester United after his poor displays since joining Leeds.

This weekend’s fixture is very important. To lose it would put a even larger dent in the chase for the top six.

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Leeds aren’t playing well; their last victory was at Burton Albion on Boxing Day and have still to record a victory in 2018.

A win is needed, but I don’t see it coming on Saturday I’m afraid. Just hope I’m wrong.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Millwall 1.

David Watkins

The home game with Millwall is crucial; Leeds stumbled against Birmingham, Forest and Ipswich since the turn of the year, all sides that we beat in the reverse fixtures.

The Millwall game and then the Hull fixture look, on paper, to be our easiest games for some time to come with a string of top ten sides facing us in February. It’s not too much of a stretch to say that defeat against the Lions and we may as well write off our play-off chances.

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The statistics suggest we have a good chance though; Millwall may be a tough nut to crack at their own Den but away from home they have the joint worst record in the Championship. They are the only side without an away win all season and indeed they are one of only three sides with no away wins in the whole of the Football League!

Look closer at that away record though and you will see that only Villa, Wolves and Derby have conceded fewer; the Lions’ problem is they seldom score away from home, just six all season. For that reason I’m guessing this is a low-scoring game with Leeds nicking it 1-0.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Millwall 0.

Mike Gill

Yet Another bumper gate awaits the visit of Neil Harris and his Millwall side at Elland Road.

The Lions’ performances away from home have been pretty dire this season and their record at Elland Road is even worse.

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Leaving the Newport debacle aside, United’s recent dearth of points has been due to their inability to score.

Assuming that Ronaldo Vieira, Adam Forshaw and Laurens De Bock are available, Leeds should be able to field a strong side and it’s time for Kemar Roofe, Pablo Hernandez and company to find the net.

It seems that securing another striker before the weekend is unlikely and so the creative solutions must come from within. Let us hope also that our players have been lectured about the need to avoid unnecessary disciplinary sanctions.

Three points is a must from this game.

And, if our recruiters can find a striker to add to their impressive signings so far, then the rest of the season should be interesting.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Millwall 0.

Matthew Evans

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It’s not a happy camp at Elland Road at the moment and that’s perhaps no significant surprise given how we have taken a mostly excellent December and turned it into a January horror show.

Stupid red cards, successive defeats to very poor teams, lengthy suspensions and injuries have all fuelled the clamour for transfers and additions to the squad.

And some supporters are starting to lose patience with Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta.

That is a very obvious overreaction and there is much more positive outlook for Leeds United than you would assume from a casual glance at social media or internet forums.

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For the visit of Millwall, Thomas Christiansen needs to press the reset button. We now have 19 games to secure a play-off place (or better) and there is absolutely no reason we can’t do it with a bit of discipline and application.

For all the angst, we are unbeaten at home since October and that should continue tomorrow.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Millwall 0.