Mark Lawrenson predicts Leeds United clash v West Ham
Mark Lawrenson has backed West Ham to beat Leeds United on Sunday afternoon in the FA Cup third round.
The BBC pundit has predicted that it will finish 2-0 to the home side at the London Stadium over the weekend.
Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t have the best record in this competition and will be looking to turn that around in the first clash of two against the Irons in the next two weeks.
Writing in his latest BBC predictions column, Lawrenson insisted that the difference will be down to squad depth.
“West Ham and Leeds meet again in the Premier League next week,” he said.
“I am guessing they will both make changes for this one and, although the Hammers need to add to their squad this month, I would still say they have more depth than Leeds right now.”
Hard to judge?
This one is really hard to judge.
West Ham are suffering with injuries just as badly as the Whites at this moment in time, but there are also rumours of a COVID outbreak within their camp.
Should that be true, the FA have made it clear that these games have to go forward no matter what, with academy players used if they have to be.
That may benefit Leeds who have been unleashing the likes of Joe Gelhardt regularly in the Premier League and may be now pushing for more starts.
Patrick Bamford is also set to be return to the squad, and he could hand the Whites a huge boost and get them across the line in this one.
Anything can happen in the FA Cup, time will tell on Sunday.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared if the Whites are close to early signings in the January window