We have a cracker of a game tonight in the Championship when Aston Villa lock horns with Leeds United. Both sides had slow starts to their respective seasons but now both are in the race for a playoff spot. Leeds are flying quite high right now having won three games on the bounce since a loss against the top of the table Brighton. Monk’s side are sitting fifth in the League table with 41 points and will be keen to win the game at any cost to stay inside the top six.
The battle for playoff spots is heating up and Aston Villa are not far off either. They are six points away from Sheffield Wednesday who are sixth in the League table and need to close the gap soon. Steve Bruce’s side will be keen to make it three wins in a row but will know that beating Leeds won’t be a straight-forward task.
The two sides met each other earlier this month at Elland Road and Leeds won the game 2-0. Villa have won 26 of their previous 79 meetings against Leeds United, drawing 26 games and losing the remaining 27 games. From the figures, it is pretty clear that whenever the two sides have faced each other, it turns out to be a close contest. We have to wait and see how the game turns out this time out.
Team news
Aston Villa
Gary Gardner will be subject to a late fitness assessment. Defender Micah Richards is unlikely to return until the New Year, while right-back Ritchie De Laet and goalkeeper Jed Steer will miss the remainder of the season.
Leeds United
Top-scorer and talismanic striker Chris Wood, along with creative midfielder Pablo Hernandez, are both in contention for starts; both players made their returns from injury on Monday as second-half substitutes. Left-back Charlie Taylor is a doubt, while right-back Lewie Coyle and midfielder Eunan O’Kane remain sidelined with injuries.
Predicted lineups
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Gollini; Hutton, Chester, Baker, Amavi; Adomah, Westwood, Jedinak, Grealish; McCormack, Kodija
Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi; Phillips, Bridcutt; Sacko, Roofe, Dallas; Doukara
Key players
Aston Villa- Jonathan Kodija
Kodija has been quite good for Villa since his summer move. He is a potent striker and will be the biggest threat to the stubborn Leeds defence.
Leeds United- Kemar Roofe
The League Two Player of the Year from the last season had a pretty slow start to life at Leeds but Monk kept his belief in the 23-year-old and now he is repaying the boss for his faith shown. With Wood unlikely to start, Roofe will be the key player for Leeds attacking wise against Villa.
Odds
Aston Villa win @3/2
Draw @3/2
Leeds win @1/1
