Leeds United face one of the club’s biggest games all season on Monday night as the Whites go to Teesside to take on Middlesbrough at The Riverside – the first of three remaining league matches.
With Ipswich Town not in action over the weekend, Leicester City winning but Southampton losing, Leeds have a real chance to take advantage and push themselves back into the top two places – above Ipswich.
Lee Sharpe has commented on the game, hoping Leeds manage to do the job and get a win. They will come up against a side who are unbeaten in nine games, winning five of those under Michael Carrick.
Luke Ayling has played a massive part in that, laying on five assists in 17 games on loan at Boro. One of those assists was against Ipswich last time out, helping Boro secure a 1-1 draw – in turn, helping Leeds.
Middlesbrough clash is absolutely must-win for Leeds tonight
Of course, Ayling is on loan at Boro – meaning he will be unavailable to play against his parent club. The same goes for Sam Greenwood. But, Leeds will be taking on Jonny Howson, who is Boro’s captain.
Jonathan Woodgate too, who is Carrick’s first-team coach. A huge game, with the chance to go back into the top two. Defeat and Leeds may have to accept a place in the play-offs come the end of the season.
If Leeds are to win, Daniel Farke will have to get his tactics right. Farke has guided us to a possible place in the top two, after such a difficult start which suggested we would be nowhere near the top of the division.
Brian Deane praises Daniel Farke, comparing him to Jesse Marsch
Speaking ahead of the clash to LUTV, Leeds icon Brian Deane – who spent three years at Middlesbrough between 1998 and 2001 – raved about Farke’s efforts, saying he is doing something Jesse Marsch didn’t.
“It’s been a resounding success. Daniel Farke has come in, steadied the ship. Leeds isn’t an easy club to be in charge of. After what I’ve seen in recent seasons, I wanted somebody a little bit more down to earth.
“In terms of the messages coming out. To be honest, the manager has done that. Daniel Farke is the kind of manager who talks straight from what I’ve seen and it just seems the players have responded to that.”