Leeds United v Newcastle United - the key battle and Graham Smyth's score prediction

The press, at both ends of the pitch, will be key for Leeds United tonight when Newcastle United visit Elland Road for the first time in four years.
KEY ROLE - Kalvin Phillips and Leeds United must win the ball back without giving away too many free-kicks in dangerous positions. Pic: GettyKEY ROLE - Kalvin Phillips and Leeds United must win the ball back without giving away too many free-kicks in dangerous positions. Pic: Getty
KEY ROLE - Kalvin Phillips and Leeds United must win the ball back without giving away too many free-kicks in dangerous positions. Pic: Getty

In both the defeat at Chelsea and the loss to West Ham, Marcelo Bielsa's men had issues pressing effectively in the opponents' half and winning the ball back in their own half without conceding free-kicks.

Here's the YEP take on tonight's key battle and our score prediction.

KEY BATTLE

Pressing in attack and defence

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Giving away free-kicks in positions where dangerous balls can be delivered into the area is something Leeds should be trying to avoid, at a time when set-pieces have become such a concern. It will undoubtedly be an area of potential joy for Steve Bruce and Newcastle United and something they will have worked on given the Whites' recent issues. Any measure of control that Kalvin Phillips and Mateus Klich et al can give the Whites, by snuffing out attacks without committing fouls, will be huge. Forwards and wingers tracking back must take special care when challenging for the ball. Equally, at the other end, Leeds haven't been able to press effectively to win possession high up the pitch in their last two games. Stopping Newcastle at source will be important, cutting off the first pass and preventing an accurate supply line from back to front for the visitors.

NEWCASTLE KEY MAN

Callum Wilson

Callum Wilson has made a huge difference to Newcastle, and not just with his goals. Wilson, signed from Bournemouth in the summer, is a clever player, and has done some of his best work outside the box. He links up well, and he’s the striker the team was crying out for last season when Joelinton was labouring up front on his own.

GRAHAM SMYTH'S VERDICT

Games seem to take on extra significance when you're in a mini slump and a positive result would go a long way to putting smiles back on worried faces, but the performance is key too. Leeds need to get back to the effective pressing that caused teams so many problems, they need a solid and confident defensive showing and they need to create chances. Do those things on a consistent basis and results will come. If they play the way they can, they are well capable of winning this game. As we've seen in the last two games, an early goal does not guarantee victory but if Leeds do score first it makes life so much easier against a counter attacking team. Newcastle are patchy, Leeds are due a response to a poor performance and I'm saying 2-0 to the home side.