Confident Leeds United cannot let Hull City spring a surprise - YEP Jury

ANDY RHODES

With their form picking up in recent weeks, Leeds will be in a confident mood heading into tomorrow’s game at struggling Hull.

The hosts haven’t won a league game since New Year’s Day and haven’t won at home since December 21.

A couple of weeks ago you would have probably said the writing was on the wall for Leeds but, after three wins in a row, United are on the up.

Their form in recent weeks has seen them pull away slightly from the chasing pack and, at the moment, they’re worth the points.

Wednesday’s win was a real scrap towards the end and Marcelo Bielsa’s side had to dig their heels in.

In the end they were good value for the points, even without Kalvin Phillips.

Mateusz Klich once again showed his value, while Ben White looked more comfortable in himself in the midfield role.

United will be hoping for more of the same on the Humber. Another 1-0 win would do the trick.

Prediction: Hull City 0 Leeds United 1.

MATTHEW EVANS

United made heavy weather of a very poor Middlesbrough side on Wednesday night but, more than ever, it’s the results that count.

Three points was all that was needed but it could and should have been far more comfortable. The situation wasn’t helped by the loss of Kalvin Phillips and I’m sure we’ll all feel happier if he returns to the starting XI against Hull.

That said, his replacement, Gaetano Berardi, did well at the back and offers a more proactive approach to defending than we normally display. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Ben White’s preferred position is back in the centre of defence and I would expect him to slot in there tomorrow lunchtime assuming Philips does make it.

Three Yorkshire derbies in a row would normally spell danger at Leeds United but we had a similar trio back in December and put them all to the sword with a combined 8-0 win and nine points.

There’s no reason we can’t do it again if we concentrate for 90 minutes.

And find the net with a bit more regularity.

It would be very nice to see Patrick Bamford back on the scoresheet. I’m going for a fourth 1-0 win on the bounce on Saturday as Leeds go marching on.

Prediction: Hull City 0 Leeds United 1.

JACOB STARR

A tightly-contested affair at Middlesbrough on Wednesday resulted in a third-successive 1-0 victory for Leeds after Mateusz Klich struck on the brink of half-time.

Boro have been sucked into a relegation dogfight so they were understandably desperate to get something from the game and even hit the bar in the second half. Patrick Bamford spurned two big chances, particularly one in the second half where it looked easier to score from Luke Ayling’s cross. It’s just not happening for him in front of goal at the moment.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men head to struggling Hull City tomorrow for the lunchtime kick-off in a bid to go one match closer to the Premier League, hopefully aided by the return of Kalvin Phillips who didn’t quite make Boro.

Grant McCann’s side have failed to win since New Year’s Day and have lost eight of their previous 10.

Key front man Tom Eaves has been ruled out for the season too; not ideal for a team four points above the drop zone.

Another 1-0 victory would do just fine, though, for Leeds.

Fulham, meanwhile, sit five points behind the Whites after beating Swansea in stoppage time in midweek, and they host Preston on Saturday.

Brentford, who suffered a shock defeat at Luton, travel to Cardiff, whilst Nottingham Forest visit the Riverside on Monday after beating Cardiff in midweek.

Prediction: Hull City 0 Leeds United 2.

KEITH INGHAM

Hull City are a strange side and selling their best players in January hasn’t helped their cause but they still offer a stern test on a cold day in Hull.

Last time we faced them it wasn’t a ‘walk in the park’ so I’m expecting another tough 90-plus minutes. It’s gearing up for one of the most exciting times of recent years and three points tomorrow will go a long way to making sure that this time we get it right!

Kalvin Phillips limping off early in the Reading game was worrying but it doesn’t seem to be an injury that we should lose much sleep over. Hopefully he’ll be fit to face Hull tomorrow.

Leeds have looked good in recent games, not brilliant because to do that you need to be putting a few more goals in the ‘onion bag’ but it’s a whole lot better than the results we had in January. I think the Nottingham Forest away game was a massive wake-up call for both fans, management and players.

The points gap to third place had gone and all the players knew they had to up their game and, three games later, they find themselves five points off third place.

Prediction: Hull City 0 Leeds United 1.

DAVID WATKINS

Three 1-0 victories on the trot have given Leeds back the momentum we craved in terms of results but we all know those three games should have been won far more convincingly.

The missing of gilt-edged chances remains an issue that is hovering above our heads like the sword of Damocles! As much as we want to believe we ‘have turned a corner’ the truth is we are pulling out these one-nil wins despite our often appalling finishing and final balls and because our dominance of the possession is limiting the opposition to meagre opportunities at the other end.

Hull City have plenty of incentive to try to get something from our visit as they are perilously near the relegation zone; four points is all that separates them from that final drop slot. They need to turn their form around; eight defeats and two draws from their last 10 games is telling.

For Leeds, another win would get us closer to the ‘holy grail’ and it’s hard to see past that outcome as long as we can find the net and maintain our usual domination of the ball.

Prediction: Hull City 1 Leeds United 2.

MIKE GILL

Another three points were secured after the nail-biting encounter at Middlesbrough.

This was a gritty clean sheet which could have been much more comfortable. It is as well that Mateusz Klich stepped up to the plate when he did and his well-taken goal capped a fine performance. A trip east along the M62 follows as United visit crisis club Hull who have not won a Championship fixture since January 1. In the intervening period, they have shipped bucketloads of goals without managing to score too many.

A self-inflicted problem was caused by the sale of star men Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki. To compound their problems, big striker Tom Eaves has now been ruled out for the season as the Tigers slide closer to the trapdoor. They are four points above Wigan and only their 2019 form is keeping them alive.

We all know that this adds up to a tough task for the Whites and they must stick to their winning formula. Hopefully Kalvin Phillips will be back and, although 1-0 would be fine, a wider margin would be better!

Prediction: Hull City 0 Leeds United 2.