‘Could cause Leeds some real problems’ – Sky Sports pundit predicts Whites v Stoke score
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has predicted a tough match for Leeds United when they meet Stoke City at Elland Road on Thursday night.
Leeds picked up a big win at Ewood Park on Saturday as they beat Blackburn 3-1 but their results have been inconsistent since the Championship season restarted last month.
The same can be said about Stoke, who had a big win against Barnsley at the weekend but lost back-to-back games against Middlesbrough and Wigan before that match.
Although Prutton believes that the Potters have the potential to cause an upset in West Yorkshire, he firmly believes that Leeds will come out on top and has predicted Marcelo Bielsa’s side to win 2-1.
“Blackburn away is one of the games that the sides chasing Leeds would have hoped to see them slip up in, but it was a convincing win for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, taking them one step closer to promotion,” Prutton wrote on the Sky Sports website.
“Stoke have had a topsy-turvy week. They were awful against Wigan, then brilliant in beating Barnsley. If Michael O’Neill’s side from the weekend turns up they could cause Leeds some real problems, although I think the home side will have enough to claim the victory.”
Leeds should win this one.
Stoke secured a massive victory at the weekend as they boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship but that boost in confidence is not going to be enough to nullify Leeds’ quality.
Bielsa’s men were impressive at Blackburn on Saturday and if they play half as good against Stoke this week, they should secure all three points.
The Whites have won just two of their last seven meetings with Stoke going into this match but history should not count for anything when they come up against each other this week.
Performances do not matter any more and only results do.
We will take a scrappy win against the Potters and predict a narrow 1-0 victory for the Whites.
In other Leeds United news, one player is expected to be dropped by Bielsa for the clash with Stoke.