David Prutton predicts result of Leeds Championship clash v Cardiff City
David Prutton has predicted the outcome of the opening Championship clash between Leeds United and Cardiff City on Sunday 6 August at Elland Road.
The Whites and new boss Daniel Farke begin their Championship exploits, following last season’s disappointing Premier League relegation, against Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds on home turf with a swift English top-flight return at the forefront of their ambitions this year.
And Prutton providing his Championship predictions ahead of the weekend’s games believes Farke’s men will have too much of Cardiff with Leeds running out 2-1 winners.
“Leeds United were promoted in a blaze of glory a few seasons ago and the city came alive under the management of Marcelo Bielsa,” said Prutton (Sky Sports predictions, 3 August).
“It only looked as though they were going to kick on, but if you don’t move forward in football you get left behind. And that is what happened. Their fans will be praying it’s not another 16 years before they taste the top flight again.
“That being said, they have gone down in better shape than last time, and have acted quickly in bringing in Daniel Farke – who has won this league the last two times he has managed in it, with Norwich in 2019 and 2021.
“For now, they still have the likes of Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto and Tyler Adams in their squad. Whether it remains that way by the end of the window, we’ll have to wait and see.
“It really could go any which way for the Bluebirds, but I think their season starts with a defeat.”
Depleted
This is a huge season for the Whites with a swift Premier League return at the top of their agenda, come what May.
However, Leeds certainly haven’t had a smooth ride with their preparations this summer, having lost as much as eight players who have gone on to seek pastures new because of the club’s Championship plight.
Farke enters this fixture with a hugely depleted squad at his disposal and with a number of injuries to key players such as Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter, Junior Firpo, Tyler Adams, Cody Drameh and Sam Greenwood so Sunday’s game won’t be an easy one, even if it is a game where the club is expected to grab the three points.
While the Elland Road faithful will be desperate for a fast start on Sunday, they shouldn’t be surprised if they are given the complete opposite with the Whites not really ready for the season to begin, having only just completed two signings so far in a summer where they desperately just as many incomings as they’ve endured players leaving.
That is a huge ask for the 49ers Enterprises which leaves Farke’s job even more tougher as the transfer window winds down. If Leeds United are to end August win four Championship wins out of four, or even two or three out of four, Farke will have worked an unbelievable miracle.
Because right now, the club have a long way to go before they’re matching the likes of fellow relegated clubs Southampton and Leicester City.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites player has been spotted on crutches heading into a medical facility ahead of Sunday’s crucial Championship opener.