Leeds United’s Championship campaign kicked off in truly dramatic fashion last weekend as they fought back from 2-0 down against Cardiff City to snatch a stoppage-time equaliser thanks to Crysencio Summerville.
Despite showing great determination and resilience to come back from a two-goal deficit, the result wasn’t exactly the desired outcome before the match began, so Daniel Farke’s side will be keen to enter the win column on Saturday as they travel down to St Andrew’s to face Birmingham City.
They did at least get their Carabao Cup campaign off to a good start with a victory over Shrewsbury Town, with the 2-1 triumph in midweek setting up a trip to Salford City later this month.
Here is a look ahead to Leeds’ next six fixtures, as Football FanCast predicts how they’ll fare in the coming weeks…
Leeds fixtures
- 12 August: Birmingham (a)
- 18 August: West Brom (h)
- 26 August: Ipswich (a)
- 29 August: Salford City (a)
- 2 September: Sheffield Wednesday (h)
- 17 September: Millwall (a)
Birmingham City v Leeds United
Leeds’ first away match of the season comes at St Andrew’s against Birmingham City as the pair look to pick up their first win of the campaign having drawn their openers.
The Blues were 14 minutes away from sealing a 1-0 away victory against Swansea City before Jerry Yates levelled to share the spoils.
Birmingham manager John Eustace was a contender for the vacant managerial position at the Swans following Russell Martin’s departure to Southampton, but reports later emerged revealing his contentment to remain at the West Midlands club.
Eustace’s side are very much on the up after being taken over by Shelby Companies Limited during the summer, whilst seven-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady joined the club’s new advisory board after becoming a minority owner.
Expectations will be significantly higher this term and fans will be hopeful of a home win this Saturday.
Leeds, on the other hand, will be riding the momentum wave after their dramatic comeback last weekend, but will be well aware of the need to rectify defensive lapses that ultimately cost them the three points.
The arrival of Joe Rodon will certainly help to shore up the back four, but this fixture may come too soon for him to have a telling impact. Either way, there could be a tricky trip to the Midlands in store for the Whites.
Prediction: Birmingham City 2-0 Leeds United
Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion
Farke’s second league outing at Elland Road comes against a manager who was a reported candidate for his position earlier in the summer.
Carlos Corberan was also Leeds’ assistant manager during Marcelo Bielsa’s reign before leaving the club to join Huddersfield Town in 2020.
His Baggies side suffered a 2-1 away defeat to Blackburn Rovers in their opening clash of the campaign after going two goals down inside 22 minutes.
Having finished last season in ninth place – three points adrift of sixth-placed Sunderland – Albion’s objective this term will surely be to place inside the top six.
The last meeting between these two came during the 2020/21 Premier League season, with Leeds winning 3-1 to complete a double over their opponents that year.
The gulf has perhaps narrowed since Albion’s relegation year, but Leeds would be the safer bet to finally get off the mark.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
Ipswich Town v Leeds United
Ipswich are many fans’ tips to take the league by storm this term after winning promotion from League One with 98 points, whilst scoring over a century of goals in the process.
Their 2-1 away victory against Sunderland in their opening fixture evinced that they belong at this level and further proved why many have backed them to gain successive promotions.
Leeds will need to be on their A-game defensively to keep Kieran McKenna’s side at bay, but equally, the Tractor Boys will be up against Premier League quality on the flanks, with Summerville likely to be amongst the Championship’s best wingers this season.
An enthralling match is likely to ensue, but home advantage could be the difference in this one…
Prediction: Ipswich Town 3-2 Leeds
Salford City v Leeds
Leeds progressed through to the second round of the EFL Cup after coming back from a goal down to beat League One outfit Shrewsbury Town at Elland Road.
Young forward Joel Gelhardt found the equaliser in the 52nd minute before Pascal Struijk gave the hosts the lead six minutes later.
The Whites will now travel to Greater Manchester on 29th August to face League Two side Salford City as their road to Wembley continues.
The Ammies caused a cup upset in the first round by beating Preston North End 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
Leeds have only ever faced Salford once in a competitive fixture, and that came four years ago under the stewardship of former manager Marcelo Bielsa, who led his team to a 3-0 victory at the Peninsula Stadium in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Farke will be hoping for a repeat this time around, and if his players perform anywhere near to their capabilities, it should be a pretty routine victory for the Championship club.
Prediction: Salford City 1-3 Leeds United
Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday
The first Yorkshire derby of the season commences in the first week of September.
Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday opened up their account against one of the favourites to go up in Southampton.
For much of the first half, Wednesday struggled to get near the Saints and found themselves 1-0 up heading into the break, but Xisco Muñoz’s side fought back to level in the second half before Ché Adams found the winning goal with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Sheffield Wednesday are one of the favourites to go down this year, and after sacking the popular Darren Moore in the summer despite him guiding the club back to the second tier, fans could be quick to turn if results aren’t good enough.
Leeds should have their squad in much better shape at this point, with the transfer window slamming shut the day before.
Prediction: Leeds 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Millwall v Leeds United
Millwall’s exciting teenage duo of Romain Esse and Aidomo Emakhu combined to seal a 1-0 away victory against last season’s play-off semi-finalists Middlesbrough last weekend.
After narrowly missing out on the play-offs themselves last season, the Lions will be hungry to go one better this season and finish inside the top six.
The Whites have not won at Millwall since 2012 and lost five of their last six matches at The Den.
Such a record would make it hard to justify anything other than a Millwall victory, but Leeds’ quality in attack will bail them out for a draw.
Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Leeds
