MOT View: Big game needed by Leeds duo v Preston after two worrying results
Leeds United still have the best defensive record in the Championship but their last two results have threatened that achievement.
After conceding three late goals in the draw with Cardiff, Leeds went on to lose 2-1 at Fulham on Saturday.
Before the Cardiff game, the Whites had only conceded 10 times in 21 games.
They have now conceded five goals in the last game and a half.
Although Leeds are still eight points clear of third and in a strong position for automatic promotion at the halfway point of the season, there will no doubt be some quiet fears of Leeds ‘falling apart’.
We saw it last season and although we have seen a marked improvement this term, there is always going to be that lingering fear so long as Marcelo Bielsa’s side isn’t winning.
Leeds are where they are in the table because of their strong defensive record and to get back to winning ways they need to steady the ship and stop leaking goals at the back.
On Boxing Day, the Yorkshire club welcomes Preston to Elland Road and we need to see a big game from centre-backs Liam Cooper and Ben White.
Only Leeds and West Brom have scored more goals than Preston in the Championship this season and it is going to be a challenge for the Whites to keep a clean sheet.
However with Cooper and White on form, that job should be made a lot easier.
According to stats by WhoScored, White has averaged the second-most number of interceptions per Championship match this season [2.6] while also ranking eighth for the number of passes made per game [58.5].
He’s the highest-rated centre-back on WhoScored’s website this season but still falls short in comparison to Cooper when it comes to the Scotland international’s aerial prowess.
Cooper has, on average, won 4.2 aerial duels per game, which is better than anyone in the Leeds squad. White has averaged 3.3.
With Cooper dominating the air and White dominating what happens on the deck, there’s no reason why Leeds’ defence cannot keep Preston’s attackers quiet on Boxing Day to restore the defensive record that has played such a key role in the side’s season so far.
In other Leeds United news, Blackpool are trying to sign this 24-year-old from Leeds.