WATFORD WILL be bidding to end March on a high and complete an unbeaten month this afternoon as they take on Neil Warnock’s Leeds United.
Under new boss Neil Warnock, Leeds have tightened up at the bag – apart from their 7-3 humbling by Forest, the task remains as difficult as ever at Elland Road.
Two wins, three draws and two defeats so far under Warnock might not represent a blistering start, but you get the feeling the real tilt at promotion will be made season. The remainder of the 2011/12 campaign will still prove useful to the former Queens Park Rangers boss though as he bids to improve the squad as well as working out who won’t be part of his plans next season.
Harshly-dismissed by the Hoops earlier this season, Warnock was also touted for the Wolves and Huddersfield jobs before move to Leeds. It appears to be a good fit despite his Sheffield United connections, and the 63 year-old has promptly labelled this his last job in football (again).
It’s a year-and-a-half remit for the experienced Sheffield-born gaffer with the ultimate aim being to deliver Premier League football for the first time in nearly a decade for the long-suffering Whites supporters.
Warnock has been quick to bring his ethos to the Yorkshire club and has also brought two former Hornet’s favourites with him.
Arriving on a free was former striker, Danny Webber. Now 30, the pacey former Manchester United hitman has been out of the game since leaving Portsmouth at the end of last season after a two year spell with the south coast club.
A season in the Premier League preceded a season of injury for the unfortunate striker who missed most of last season with knee ligament damage. Webber is now back and firing on all cylinders, having made a positive start to life at Elland Road.
Watford legend Paul Robinson is another to have hot-footed it up to Elland Road, signing on-loan from Bolton Wanderers where he had fallen out of favour.
At 33, Robinson is as competitive as ever and still managed to rack up 74 top-flight starts for Owen Coyle’s side, but the Trotters flailing, Robinson found himself in the reserves. The left-back has made is clear since his loan arrival that he would be keen to make the move permanent should the opportunity present itself.
Watford boss Sean Dyche will be without Adrian Mariappa and Stephen McGinn, meaning Marin Taylor will partner Nyron Nosworthy at the back.
It will be a toss-up between Chris Iwelumo and Joe Garner to see who partners the in-form Troy Deeney up front.
Alex Kacaniklic has been re-called by Fulham so it’s a shoot-out between Craig Forsyth, Mark Yeates and Britt Assombalonga for the left-wing slot.
Leeds have defensive headaches with Darren O’Dea and Patrick Kisnorbo injured and Leigh Bromby and Andy O’Brien unfit.
Midfielder’s Mika Vayrynen and Aiden White are both sidelines whilst striker Davide Somma is out of contention.
Likely line-ups
Leeds United: Lonergan; Connolly, Lees, Bruce, Robinson; Webber, Clayton, Brown, Snodgrass (c); Becchio & McCormack.
Watford: Kuszczak; Doyley, Taylor, Nosworthy, Dickinson; Murray, Eustace (c), Hogg, Forsyth; Iwelumo & Deeney.
Referee: Mr P Tierney.
Share this article
Related Articles
