‘Couldn’t have had two worse fixtures’ – Exclusive: Robinson predicts Leeds clash v West Brom
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has predicted that Leeds United will draw 1-1 with West Brom in their Premier League clash at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening.
Leeds bounced back to winning ways and managed to stay solid defensively as they beat Burnley 1-0 at Elland Road on Sunday while Sam Allardyce earned his first point in charge of the Baggies as they drew 1-1 away at Liverpool.
Both teams will go into the game in the Black Country high on confidence and ex-Leeds goalkeeper Robinson expects the game to end as a draw.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said, “We saw West Brom against Liverpool, and one of the managers I’ve got the utmost respect for in Sam Allardyce, he gets a team organised, gets them facing up the right way.
“They’re going to be hugely difficult to beat for Leeds. They are most vulnerable, at the moment on set-pieces and high balls, and they play Burnley and West Brom within a week, they couldn’t have had two worse fixtures.
“I think it’s going to be a really, really tough fixture for Leeds, I’d take a draw now.
“I’d go a 1-1 draw, simply by the way Sam is going to set his team up to defensively frustrate Leeds and then how clever they are going forward on the counter-attack.”
Leeds’ weakness at set-pieces is definitely going to be something to keep an eye on at The Hawthorns on Tuesday because West Brom’s Matheus Pereira is likely to return to the starting line-up fresh off the back of an assist at Anfield on Sunday.
Pereira set up goals for fun in the Championship and his ability at corners and free-kick, couple with the aerial threat of Semi Ajayi, Dara O’Shea and Darnell Furlong, could cause issues for the Whites.
However, Leeds did not seem too flustered by Burnley’s aerial bombardment on Sunday when they beat the Clarets 1-0.
Kalvin Phillips dropped into a back-three with Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk and that trio dealt with almost everything that came their way.
Marcelo Bielsa might opt for a similar defensive arrangement at The Hawthorns.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani has been urged to make a huge investment away from the Whites.