YEP Jury - Leeds United's next two games will decide the direction of this Championship season

ANDY RHODES

These next two games are the ones that will really sort the wheat from the chaff.

If January had gone better for Leeds, trips to Nottingham and Brentford might not have to look so ominous but, after just one win and four goals in the month, things are looking shaky.

You could see last weekend’s defeat to Wigan coming.

The Latics were always going to park the bus, but Forest and Brentford don’t think like that – they never have.

Leeds are said to play at their best when opposing sides that flood forward and leave gaps at the back, as Forest have found on several occasions at home this season.

In fact, their home record is only the division’s 12th best.

Leeds then will feel encouraged and will look to utilise the pace of Helder Costa and Jack Harrison.

These next two games will really decide the direction this season’s Championship will go in.

This is where push comes to shove.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 Leeds United 2.

MATTHEW EVANS

We awoke last Saturday top of the Championship and favourites for promotion; we went to bed in second place but still with a fantastic chance of achieving what we’ve all dreamed of for 16 years.

Now is not the time for questions about Marcelo Bielsa, about the merits of starting new signings immediately, about the running of the club and the handling of the transfer window.

Now is the time for unity, attack, passion and belief. We love being referred to as the best fans in the world and now it’s time to stand up, be counted and show ite. Wigan at home was a disappointment but wins at Nottingham Forest and Brentford – two other games, like Wigan, where we squandered points in 2018/19 – would be a huge lift to the team, the fans and our league position. I’m going to the City Ground to sing for Leeds United, to celebrate every successful pass, tackle and goal like it means the world and, hopefully, play a very small part in dragging this club over the line – back to where it belongs – over the next 16 games.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 Leeds United 2.

JACOB STARR

Jean-Kevin Augustin could make his highly anticipated Championship debut in tomorrow’s all-important clash.

If Leeds succumb to defeat at the City Ground, Forest will move to within a point of us, and Fulham level if they manage to overcome Blackburn. So, again, I find myself saying it is yet another significant weekend of Championship football. Patrick Bamford has been the subject of social media criticism, particularly after the loss to Wigan, and his poor form could mean ‘Big Kev’ has a chance of making his first first-team appearance.

I cannot stress enough how much we need to start taking our chances, but it may be a case of freshening things up with the inclusions of Augustin and Ian Poveda that helps to turn this grim run. Just like Marcelo Bielsa’s men, Sabri Lamouchi’s side lost their last match when defeated 2-1 by Birmingham despite being a goal up and missing a penalty. However, Forest have doubled Leeds’ points return in the previous five league fixtures so they should be confident of shaking things up even more at the top.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Leeds United 1.

KEITH INGHAM

For most of January, Leeds fans have seen the best and worst of their team.

One half they can be sublime, the other they can be otherwise, and without a goal for their efforts. February needs to see a return of the team that swept aside everything before them (albeit with a small score) and the defence was a wall.

Leeds’ gap to third is only three points and, by the time we kick off at Forest, they could be there via goal difference if Fulham beat Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park – and there is a good chance of that happening.

Forest, despite last weekend’s defeat to Birmingham City have been playing well, especially at home, and Leeds face a tough battle to get three much-needed points ‘on the road’. It’s not that United are playing badly because they aren’t, it’s just at both ends of the field there are problems that need sorting.

A much-needed clean sheet would help matters because you have to go back to December since that happened.

All things considered, I think, if Leeds get a point, they will be happy.

But I’m not confident they will get anything.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Leeds United 1.

MIKE GILL

After all the navel gazing, hand wringing and general anxiety that followed the Wigan game, Leeds have to pick themselves up in the short trip to the City Ground.

Our biggest problem is ourselves and the team’s biggest problem is the weight of expectation they carry by being a bigger club than most Premier League teams. We all inhabit this goldfish bowl and spend most of our time looking only at our own shortcomings.

It is of no consequence to us that West Brom finally won a game on Saturday by having two goals gifted to them or that Huddersfield pushed Fulham all the way. We do not even register the fact that Forest themselves threw away a golden opportunity to push us even closer. Hot shot Louis Grabban missed three sitters including a penalty but we don’t care about that.

Some of us are even blaming the head coach for not playing the new signings. Bielsa is like a wise father who will not let us open our presents before our birthday. No amount of screaming or stamping will make him change his mind. Good for him!

My glass is still half full so:

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 Leeds United 2.

DAVID WATKINS

After the exhilaration of a 5-4 win at St Andrews, a solid draw at West Brom and a breathtaking first half at Arsenal, we stumbled against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.

Then, after a first-half nightmare against Millwall, a pulsating second half brought our first win in five. All looked good again and social media was calm. Then, wham! Another soft goal conceded, more missed chances, and Wigan set our nerves on edge once more; it’s impossible to know whether our roller-coaster car is on the up or the down track.

What we do know is Forest are flying. Five wins in eight with one defeat, albeit that came last weekend at Birmingham. Their home form is average, they’ve lost four at the City Ground already, including a 4-0 thumping by Wednesday. Leeds’ away form is only bettered by West Brom though so, if both sides play to their best, it could be close.

I’m still concerned about the way we’ve defended lately so my head says it’s a narrow defeat, and that could mean the gap to third is only goal difference.

Let’s hope I’m wrong … I often am!

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Leeds United 1.