Key events
Leeds are unchanged from last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Brighton. In between times they lost 6-3 at Chelsea in the Rumbelows, having led 2-0, but only three of tonight’s XI started that one.
Let’s take a loser look at the teams…
Daniel Farke tells Sky it’s been a good start in terms of performance and points, but this is a difficult test against a strong team who are especially dangerous in transition. They’re hoping to ride momentum and it’s good their fans are excited having suffered plenty.
Eddie Howe has left a legacy, he muses, and Jaissle has tried to work with it, deploying pacy players up front, so his team need to be careful to look after the ball.
Teams!
Leeds United (3-4-2-1): Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Trafford, Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović, Gudmundsson, Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Okafor, Stach, Calvert-Lewin; Okafor, Stach; Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Zetterer, Bard, Bijol, Longstaff, Aaronson, Wilson James, Bahoya, Nmecha.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Nico, Miley L; Murphy, Fernandez-Pardo, Barnes; Wissa. Subs: Pope, Livramento, Schär, Bamba, Steur, Touré, Willock, Ramsey, Miley M.
Referee: Adam Herczeg (Durham)
Preamble
English football is renowned for its classic match-ups – your Man United-Liverpools, your Arsenal-Spurses and so on. But it also boasts a slew of evocative fixtures that, though not ensconced in the top tier, define the game just as essentially, historic clubs telling rich stories, set in mythical grounds which elevate singular cities.
Leeds United v Newcastle United is one such, and both arrive sides at this game in decent nick. Leeds stayed up last season – comfortably, in the end – and strengthened well in the summer, adding James Trafford in net with Tarik Mahuremovic and Nico Elvedi recruited to protect him and the mercurial invention of Harry Wilson augmenting an already decent attack.
Newcastle, meantime, dispensed with the manager who delivered their first major trophy in 56 years, also selling their captain and best midfielder; another first-choice midfielder; and their best attacker. Yet, somehow, they seem to have improved.
I say somehow, but the reasons are clear. Matthias Jaissle has made an excellent start to his stint in the big chair with Nico González settling well in central-midfield. And, next to him, Lewis Miley is developing into the all-round monster he promised to become, while Anthony Elanga, Joe Willock and Yoane Wissa are taking chances largely denied them under the previous regime. Whether or not it lasts remains to be seen but, for now, things are looking good – and that’s before we’ve had a proper look at Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Bazoumana Touré and Aladji Bamba.
All of which means we’re well set for a large helping of “this league” action, under the lights, in one of football’s last remaining bear-pits. Bring it on!
Kick-off: 8pm BST
