YEP Jury: Visit to ‘impressive’ Aston Villa should still hold no fears for Leeds United

Our panel of fans look ahead to Leeds United trip to in-form Aston Villa tonight.
Pascal Struijk in action against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Pascal Struijk in action against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Pascal Struijk in action against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

ANDY RHODES

After tasting defeat for the second time in the Premier League on Monday, Leeds have had to pick themselves up quickly before tonight’s visit to Villa Park.

Although the standard has improved visibly, Monday’s game was reminiscent of a Championship match, with both sides minimising their risks and defending in numbers. This evening’s game could see much of the same, although Aston Villa haven’t been shy in front of goal so far this campaign. Four wins and three clean sheets has seen them rise to second in the league, but United and Marcelo Bielsa have got the better of Villa before.

Leeds United's Raphinha looks to go past Nelson Semedo.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Leeds United's Raphinha looks to go past Nelson Semedo.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Leeds United's Raphinha looks to go past Nelson Semedo. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
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Patrick Bamford will hope to rediscover his eye for goal, while Raphinha looked sharp when he came on against Wolves.

The game could see some added spice after events when the sides last met, but you suspect Bielsa will want a quiet evening in the West Midlands.

A result here would catch the eye, particularly after Liverpool’s hammering earlier this month.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1 Leeds United 1.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, above, with Villa and England midfielder Jack Grealish, has delivered a motivational message, say fans, after claiming the Whites have been ‘found out’ in the Premier League. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, above, with Villa and England midfielder Jack Grealish, has delivered a motivational message, say fans, after claiming the Whites have been ‘found out’ in the Premier League. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, above, with Villa and England midfielder Jack Grealish, has delivered a motivational message, say fans, after claiming the Whites have been ‘found out’ in the Premier League. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.

MATTHEW EVANS

There was Monday-night disappointment after a very promising first half against Wolverhampton Wanderers but it gave me a very familiar feeling – that of the mid-table Leeds United of my 1990s youth.

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You win some, you lose some and Leeds are almost always safely a Premier League side without ever threatening to win it.

Mid-table will represent success this season and, without the fun of going to games, it might be a rare, run-of-the-mill campaign that we can sit back and watch play out.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after completing his hat-trick against Liverpool. Picture: PA.Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after completing his hat-trick against Liverpool. Picture: PA.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after completing his hat-trick against Liverpool. Picture: PA.

Villa away tonight represents another throwback to my childhood.

I’ll be listening to BBC Radio Leeds and donating my £14.95 pay-per-view fee to charity. We can’t afford to let the football establishment rinse us for any more money, especially when the ‘product’ is so sterile at the moment.

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Our last trip to Aston Villa was one of the best away days of the last 10 years and I am going for a repeat result with my prediction, albeit hoping we don’t go 2-0 down first!

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 3.

Marcelo Bielsa and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Marcelo Bielsa and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Marcelo Bielsa and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

DAVID WATKINS

The defeat to Wolves was a reality check that reminded us that possession is not sufficient to win matches; you also need to create chances and, more important still, take them.

There was nothing fundamentally wrong with our performance so a trip to Villa Park should hold no fears, although injuries may leave us light at the back against a team that appears to have found its mojo with a striker, Ollie Watkins, capable of hurting the best.

Villa sit second in the table with a 100 per cent record having already beaten Sheffield United and Fulham just as Leeds did but, whereas we lost narrowly at Anfield, Villa battered the Reds 7-2 in that astonishing match before the international break. Villa’s other win was 1-0 at Leicester. Villa’s turnaround so far, compared with their dice with relegation last season, is remarkable and their finishing against Liverpool was exactly what Leeds were missing against Wolves.

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Another difficult one to call and, with a makeshift defence, we may need lady luck to show up this time!

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 2.

KEITH INGHAM

Leeds unfortunately lost their unbeaten home run – that stretched back to February when Wigan won 1-0 – when Wolves beat them by the same 1-0 score but it was a tight affair only decided by a deflected Jeminez shot.

Unfortunately United not only lost the game but face six weeks without Kalvin Phillips who injured his shoulder in the later stages of the game.

Already Liam Cooper is doubtful after limping off pre-game with a recurrence of a groin strain.

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Diego Llorente is out until after the next international break in November and Cooper’s replacement Pascal Struijk was substituted late in the match after slipping in the build up to Wolves’ winning goal.

Not the best preparation when the next team you play is unbeaten Aston Villa on their own turf.

Villa have impressed. Four straight wins and, in Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley, they have two outstanding midfielders.

Barkley joined Villa on loan from Chelsea and has already netted twice, in the 7-2 demolition of Liverpool and with his late winner at Leicester. Last season, they spent heavily but were nearly relegated from the Premier League.

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This term, they look better equipped to stay well away from the bottom three places.

Marcelo Bielsa will have no choice but to ‘shuffle his pack’. Alioski or Dallas may be employed as Phillips’ deputy and, if Struijk is injured, young Casey or even younger Cresswell may start in the centre of defence.

Many commented, after Monday, that the likes of Poveda and Raphinha may be options on the wings as the crosses to Bamford weren’t the best and he struggled against Coady and Kilman.

A draw in the current circumstances would be a great result and, with Leeds once again struggling injury wise, it may be the best result the home-watching fans can hope for.

I, though, can’t see it happening.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 1.

JACOB STARR

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A frustrating 1-0 loss to Wolves on Monday puts a little more pressure on Leeds to come away with something at Villa Park tonight, despite Dean Smith’s side possessing a 100 per cent record so far.

The Whites played well on Monday, and only a deflected goal separated the sides in what was the first match United have failed to score in this season.

The result was probably not the costliest thing to happen though.

Kalvin Phillips injured his shoulder and could be out for six weeks, while Liam Cooper withdrew from the warm-up.

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The absence of Phillips could be vital with Leeds failing to add a central midfielder to the squad in the transfer window. We look very light in that area of the pitch that’s for sure.

Marcelo Bielsa has previously said that centre-backs Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk have the ability to play the ‘Phillips role’, although the pair are the only two fit central defenders at present, with Diego Llorente out and Cooper probably out for the Villa game, at least.

Phillips would have been crucial to preventing an in-form Jack Grealish roaming around Villa Park. Perhaps a job for Stuart Dallas.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 1.

MIKE GILL

The Wolves game produced a good performance but a disappointing result.

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United’s dominance in the first half was pretty stunning, even by their own high standards. A draw would probably have been fair as Wolves did come back into things in the second period, although the Whites finished the game strongly. Wolves were the best-drilled side that Leeds have faced this season and United suffered from their old problem of not being able to finish.

Koch, Meslier and Struijk all looked comfortable in defence though and this augurs well for the season ahead.

Tonight’s ‘15-quid special’ is a trip to unbeaten Aston Villa.

This is likely to be a more open encounter which should benefit the Whites.

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It’s high time that someone put Villa in their place and Leeds could be the team to do it.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, one of Talk Sport’s professional agitators, has sent United a motivational message saying that they have been ‘found out’ and ‘just run around’ et cetera.

We will see.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 3.

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