da dobrowin： Leeds United will look to bounce back from their disappointing 3-0 defeat against Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road in midweek, and keep their faint play-off hopes alive, when they face strugglers Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
da dobrowin： The Yorkshire outfit knew they could close the gap to the top six to just six points if they could beat Wolves on Wednesday night, but instead they suffered a comprehensive defeat against the runaway leaders with a number of players putting in below-par performances.
The loss left the Whites nine points adrift of the play-offs with just 10 league games remaining, but considering they have suffered successive 3-0 reverses and have only won one of their last 12 Championship matches, they need a big upturn in form to save their season.
Paul Heckingbottom has only taken five points from a possible 18 since he succeeded Thomas Christiansen last month, and he will also be desperate to pick up some wins before the pressure begins to increase on him from the passionate Leeds supporters.
Meanwhile, the Royals lie just five points above the relegation zone having reached the play-off final last season, and while they should be fighting for their lives Heckingbottom will certainly take some solace from the fact that they have only won three of their 18 matches at the Madejski this term.
The 40-year-old boss made three changes from the side that was beaten 3-0 by Middlesbrough for the game against Wolves last time out, and he will be considering making some more following another disappointing display.
Here is how Leeds must line up against Reading on Saturday…
Defence
Bailey Peacock-Farrell started between the sticks for Leeds against Wolves following another disappointing display by Felix Wiedwald at the Riverside Stadium, and the 21-year-old did well and made a number of good saves – even if he perhaps should have done better with the third Wolves goal.
He should start again at the Madejski Stadium in order to keep his confidence high, and with Liam Cooper absent because of injury, something the fans aren’t too disappointed about, Matthew Pennington should come in to partner Pontus Jansson at the heart of the defence.
Gaetano Berardi must again start at right-back but Heckingbottom must consider making a big change at left-back, and with Vurnon Anita and Laurens De Bock both struggling for form the Whites boss should look to give youngster Tom Davies an opportunity.
Midfield
Heckingbottom started with Adam Forshaw and Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park against Wolves after Eunan O’Kane had a night to forget against Middlesbrough, but while January addition Forshaw did ok, Phillips was once again disappointing and was widely criticised by Leeds supporters for his display.
With neither him nor O’Kane in good form, the Whites boss should look to start Ronaldo Vieira alongside Forshaw even though he himself hasn’t been producing the good performances he has done previously this season.
He deserves an opportunity like Phillips and O’Kane have had in recent times though, and the 19-year-old could bring some much-needed energy and aggression in the middle of the park at the Madejski.
Attack
Heckingbottom dropped Ezgjan Alioski to the substitutes’ bench and brought Hadi Sacko into the starting line-up against Wolves, but the latter looks unlikely to keep his place in the XI in Berkshire given he was replaced at half-time against the Championship leaders and with some fans not wanting him to start for them again.
Pablo Hernandez replaced the Frenchman on the left-hand side and should start there against Reading too, with Alioski returning in place of Stuart Dallas on the opposite flank and Samu Saiz starting in the centre as Leeds look to go on the attack to get the win they so desperately need.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga should keep his place up top, and he will be confident of getting on the score-sheet against a fragile Royals defence – as long as he gets the right service.
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