MOT Tactics: 22y/o is kryptonite for Leeds as they aim for back-to-back wins v Reading
This article is part of a regular series from Leeds United stats supremos All Stats Aren’t We – the team also host a brilliant podcast that goes in-depth into the tactics of Marcelo Bielsa and a deeper look at the underlying stats
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Leeds United have a good chance to record their first back to back wins today since the end of the seven-game run.
Of course, they had this chance against Wigan recently and messed it up, but let’s hope for better today.
Reading have only won one out of eight, which was against awfully out of form Sheffield Wednesday.
Reading do have two excellent players in midfield in John Swift, who is one of the best creators in the league with his passing ability and in 22-year-old Ovie Ejaria, who is a dangerous ball carrier through the middle of the pitch.
Ball carriers are Leeds’ kryptonite. Think back to Bright Osayi Samuel causing havoc v QPR recently.
With Leeds’ man-marking system, only one player has to be beaten to cause major problems as somebody else has to leave their man to make the challenge.
Leeds will hope to match the intensity in winning the ball back that they showed in the last two games and keep the ball away from Ejaria as much as possible.
Reading will likely sit deep as they did at the Madejski. As always in these situations, an early goal for Leeds is a game-changer.
In other Leeds United news, Athletic journalist delivers update on Casilla FA hearing, states which keeper likely v Reading