YEP Jury: Bolton Wanderers may be struggling but still pose a threat warn Leeds United fans

The Yorkshire Evening Post's fans' jury has a recurring theme ahead of Leeds United's Championship encounter at struggling Bolton Wanderers '“ the probable return of long-term absentee Patrick Bamford and a healthy victory for The Whites.
All smiles for Patrick Bamford. PIC: Gerard Binks PhotographyAll smiles for Patrick Bamford. PIC: Gerard Binks Photography
All smiles for Patrick Bamford. PIC: Gerard Binks Photography

The positivity surrounding a potential fifth-straight win is tempered, however, by acknowleding The Trotters’ resilience under intense on-and-off-field pressure, and the caveat that United will still have to maintain or improve standards. Here’s what they have to say:

ANDY RHODES

We’re getting into what is almost uncharted territory now. Tomorrow Leeds United have the chance to make it five wins on the spin for the first time since 2009/10.

Leeds United head coach, Marcelo Bielsa. PIC: Bruce RollinsonLeeds United head coach, Marcelo Bielsa. PIC: Bruce Rollinson
Leeds United head coach, Marcelo Bielsa. PIC: Bruce Rollinson
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That year’s level of success may have felt like a distant memory in many of the seasons since, but Marcelo Bielsa has got the fans questioning if they dare to dream again.

The team standing in their way of a fifth consecutive win is Bolton, a side with form at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Trotters haven’t won since September and with off-field problems mounting, all eyes will be on United to see them off.

Fans will be hoping to see Patrick Bamford and Izzy Brown become more involved in the first team, and after dazzling performances in the Under-23’s 6-3 win at Burnley on Tuesday, they may be ready sooner rather than later.

That famous season in League One was a year-long tussle between Leeds and Norwich. Nine years later, the two are on a collision course again.

Izzy BrownIzzy Brown
Izzy Brown

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1 Leeds United 3.

KEITH INGHAM

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Four wins on the spin, only one goal conceded by a defence that changes weekly owing to injuries and players returning from long-term injuries. Can it get any better than that?

The run of form that has seen Leeds put themselves in a superb position has been done the hard way, grinding out wins in tight games and some when not playing too well. This Leeds squad is probably the most ‘together’ I’ve seen in a long while and the results they have achieved have been deserved.

The thing about this league is that if you take teams lightly they will bite your rear! So a trip to Bolton Wanderers will probably have most Leeds fans putting them (Leeds) on their football coupons as a certain away win. The Trotters are in financial difficulties and their main striker is suspended for the game. It’s sad to see such a legendary name struggling so much.

Last week they nearly gave the place as leaders of the Championship to Leeds but an injury-time goal by Norwich denied them a point they really deserved.

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Football is like that when you are struggling for results. They haven’t had a win in their last five games, losing three and getting draws at home to Wigan and away at Millwall.

Marcelo Bielsa’s squad could be boosted by the return of Patrick Bamford who scored a hat-trick in the under-23’s 6-3 win over Burnley.

Izzy Brown also completed 90 minutes and scored in the game.

Both could be in contention for a place in the 18 for the Bolton game.

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I expect Kalvin Phillips or Aapo Halme will partner Pontus Jansson in the middle of the defence.

An early goal for Leeds should see them claim three points but, as I write most weeks, no game is an easy ride in this league.

That said, I expect nothing else but a comfortable win.

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 0 Leeds United 2.

MIKE GILL

United will make the short trip across the Pennines to visit the troubled Trotters.

Bolton are beset by financial problems despite gaining promotion from League One last season.

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Last week, players’ wages were paid only at the 11th hour and morale is at an all-time low. Nevertheless Wanderers almost held Norwich to a draw last Saturday so they will not be a pushover.

The Whites should be buoyed by their win against QPR despite the fact that it was a close-run thing.

The other bit of good news was the 6-3 win by the Development Squad at Burnley.

A hat trick from Patrick Bamford and compelling performances from Jack Clarke and Izzy Brown will give Marcelo Bielsa more of the right kind of selection problems.

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United must continue to push on and win against Bolton; these are the kind of matches that present golden opportunities to amass more points and put pressure on all the teams who are in the mix for promotion.

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1 Leeds United 3.

DAVID WATKINS

Leeds go to struggling, out-of-form and out-of-money Bolton Wanderers looking for a fifth win on the bounce to keep the momentum going while Bolton are without a win in 11 games and have achieved just three draws in that period, scoring only five goals.

But Leeds know that just as table-topping Norwich had to rely on a tad of good fortune against the Trotters last Saturday, so too it will help if Lady Luck is around to give us a hand this week.

She’s been kind to Leeds lately ... unusually so. There was the Roofe ‘handball’ goal; the comical Kipre step over at Wigan; Josh Brownhill’s red card for Bristol City; Bailey’s penalty save against Reading; the Dean Henderson calamity keeping at Bramall Lane; and, last week, the penalty against QPR.

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Much of that good fortune was down to the way a Bielsa team works so hard and stays alert but still we’ve seldom had the rub of the green to this extent. Bolton will be as tough a challenge as any and we’ll need to be both strong and lucky!

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 0 Leeds United 1.

MATTHEW EVANS

It’s a well-worn footballing cliché but you would struggle to find a better representation of ‘like a new signing’ than Izzy Brown – the Chelsea loanee who has been out since the summer through injury.

Add to that Patrick Bamford’s return from injury – again long-term – and the emergence of Jack Clarke and you can start to see that the second half of the season could get even more exciting.

That trio scored five of the six goals in the under-23 win against Burnley earlier this week and I’d expect all three to feature in Saturday’s matchday squad.

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On paper, it looks like a great opportunity for a fifth straight win and further consolidation of our place in the top two. There is likely to be a game in the near future where we come unstuck again, don’t quite reach the heights of performance that we know we can or succumb to a bit of bad luck.

But we’ve shown since the West Brom game that we can put those moments behind us.

And, besides, I don’t think it will come tomorrow.

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 2 Leeds United 4.

SHAUN SMITH

Bolton trace their history back to 1874 when they founded as an amateur club.

Recently, their colourful owner has gone back to the club’s roots, expecting the players to play for nothing. There are reports that he will accept the mercenary nature of the modern game and pay the players on Friday. Some might see this as unfair incentive – wages paid just in time to take on Leeds but it may prove a positive. Perhaps the players, if they are anything like me, will rush to the sweet shop and overdose on Sherbert Fountains and Curly Wurlies.

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One of course feels some sympathy with the beleaguered club, albeit momentarily before going on to crush them mercilessly. We are Leeds fans, we’ve been there, seen it and pawned the tee-shirt.

Last time out, United almost scored early and could have fulfilled my on-going prophecy that we will stuff someone sooner rather than later. Not wanting to sound like a scratched record but I suspect an early Leeds goal would make this game comfortable to the point of easy.

However, their players did well against Norwich and deserve credit for that. It could well be Phil Parkinson’s last game and, presumably, they will want to do well for him.

I suggest Leeds go for the jugular and we can wish them well from the departing victorious team bus.

It’s a cruel game; hopefully, not for us.

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 0 Leeds United 4.