Leeds United vs Newcastle United

Elland Road forms the backdrop for a lopsided Premier League contest between relegation-battling Leeds United and top-four hopefuls Newcastle United.

Not even the appointment of Sam Allardyce was enough to prevent Leeds United from succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at table-topping Manchester City last weekend, extending the team’s woeful winless run in the Premier League to six games (D1, L5). Time is ticking away for the hosts to rediscover their winning touch as they start this round two points below safety, with only three matches left. Back to Elland Road, where they’ve conceded 5+ goals in two of their last three Premier League outings (D1, L2), the ‘Whites’ are seemingly in bad shape as they look to avoid drawing a blank in three consecutive league meetings with Newcastle for the first time since 1997 (D1, L1). Worryingly for the Yorkshire faithful, Leeds have lost 54% of their Premier League home encounters against the ‘Magpies’ (7/13).

In the meantime, visiting Newcastle slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to title-bidding Arsenal last weekend despite hitting the woodwork twice as their outrageous run of 13 goals in three Premier League fixtures came to a halt (W3). Keen to tighten the grip on a long-awaited Champions League qualification, Eddie Howe’s men head to Elland Road on the back of four wins from their last five league travels (L1), all of which came ‘to one.’ With eight away wins under their belt this term, the ‘Magpies’ are gunning for a ninth Premier League triumph on the road in a single season for the first time since 2001/02. Addressing growing defensive woes tops Howe’s list of assignments after his lads failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 of their last 14 top-flight games.