Leeds United legend's two-word demand for Cardiff City clash as away-day strength highlighted
Leeds United are back on the road this weekend after a first defeat of the season at home to Burnley.
Dominic Matteo insists Leeds United must ‘start well’ at Cardiff City to ensure they can play to their away-day strengths against a struggling side.
Leeds head to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday looking to bounce back from a first defeat of the season against Burnley, with Daniel Farke under some early pressure as old issues resurface. The Clarets were able to take their early chance via Luca Koleosho before handing possession to the Whites, who were unable to break down a stern defensive unit at Elland Road.
That same defensive strength is unlikely to stand in front of Leeds on Saturday, with Cardiff rock-bottom of the Championship and winless in five, having shipped 11 goals in the process. But a defiant Bluebirds side will walk out with a point to prove and Matteo has urged a fast start from the travelling Whites.
“Every game when you’re playing away, you have to make sure you start well,” Matteo told LUTV. “away from home, if you don't start right you can get found out early on. They will have plenty to prove, they’ve only got one point and have been conceding goals, defensively not set up very well but they’ll be doing work behind the scenes to make sure it's difficult.”
Quality on the counter
Home form was a major factor in last season’s success but with Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville departing, that ability to break down defences has been diminished. The addition of Brenden Aaronson in the No.10 role has added a more direct pace to the attacking unit, however, which was on show for both goals in the 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds undoubtedly have the pace and quality to open up even the best Championship defences and so an early goal would hope to bring Cardiff out on Saturday, potentially opening up those chances to counter. And Matteo has noticed a difference in the way Farke’s men play on the road.
“What we need to do is not worry about other teams,” the former Whites defender added. “Away from home, we feel a bit more free-flowing with that pace on the break. We’ve looked far more dangerous and solid away, which is unusual because our home form last season was so strong.
“We need to make sure we take that into the home and away games. Away from home, we set up to hit on the counter and did that on numerous occasions. At Cardiff, it's an opportunity for us to get the points and move into the next games because every game is important and you can’t afford to fall too far behind.”