Leeds United return to the real business of promotion today when they take on Hartlepool United at Victoria Park.
The FA Cup run was romantic and left us all with some great memories but it did start to hinder our promotion bid, now it is over it is time to leave our promotion rivals behind. The Carlisle game aside, we can fully concentrate on the league and with some relatively easy fixtures coming up we won’t get a better chance to pull away.
There is a chance of another FA Cup hangover but we have some good players to come back in and those fresh legs should make the difference. The likes of Max Gradel and Gary McSheffrey are the kind of players who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and we shouldn’t be afraid to go at Hartlepool. We have been tentative on our travels of late and started games well on the back foot, starting with two attacking wingers would signal our intent.
I can understand why it would be difficult for players to get up for a game like this after playing in front of a full house at Elland Road, after all it is the same for the fans, but the Spurs game should motivate the side. They should be determined to play in front of crowds like that every week and they won’t have a better chance to do it than with Leeds United.
Team news
Simon Grayson has a perfect opportunity to freshen things up against Hartlepool. Robert Snodgrass looked out on his feet again the other night and should be replaced by Gradel who needs to be starting games. McSheffrey should come in for Bradley Johnson and Shane Lowry should replace Andy Hughes.
Paddy Kisnorbo looks set to miss out again through injury so Lubo Michalik and Richard Naylor will continue at the back. If Neil Kilkenny is back I would play him alongside Michael Doyle and rest Jonny Howson.
Jermaine Beckford is due a rest but Grayson understandably doesn’t want to leave his main man out, particularly when he doesn’t have a proven goal scorer waiting in the wings. It is a problem, Larry will just have to make sure he chooses the right games to rest him. I don’t think today is one of those games.
Grayson doesn’t have any excuses, he has to shake things up. He doesn’t strike me as a manager to make the same mistake multiple times so I’m looking forward to seeing an energetic performance.
Prediction
Hartlepool are struggling at the wrong end of the table and were hammered 5-0 at home by MK Dons a few weeks ago. They will obviously be up for this game but we should put them firmly on the back foot with some positive intent. This isn’t a game for containment, we should go at them with everything we have got. If we do that I can see a comfortable win.
Hartlepool 1 Leeds United 3
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