Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has predicted that Leeds United will be held to a 1-1 draw by Derby County when the two sides meet at Elland Road on Friday night.
Leeds go into the game top of the Championship table despite losing their last two league fixtures and Derby will no doubt be trying to avenge their 4-1 defeat against the Whites at Pride Park earlier in the season.
While Prutton believes that Frank Lampard and his men will be out to hurt the Yorkshire giants, he doesn’t think that they will be able to pick up all three points and has predicted the sides to share the spoils at Elland Road.
“It was probably a good time for Leeds to have a bit of a break from Championship action after two back-to-back defeats, but they are still top of the table and will be keen to bounce back,” said Prutton on the Sky Sports website.
“Derby took an absolute hiding in the reverse fixture at Pride Park. It was Frank Lampard’s first home game and they were hammered 4-1. He will be desperate for a bit of a revenge, and I think his side can grab a draw at Elland Road.”
OPINION
It could be a bump ride for Leeds on Friday night. Marcelo Bielsa might be missing key player Pablo Hernandez for the game as the injury list at Elland Road continues to get longer and longer. Derby on the other hand might be without Harry Wilson, according to Sky Sports, so both teams might have to make do without key attackers. Either way it’s hard to tip either team to win this. Yes, Leeds’ form has been poor but they did batter Derby at Pride Park earlier in the season. The Rams haven’t been in the best form either, winning just one of their last six games in all competitions, although that was in the 4-3 thriller against Norwich. It should be a good game for the neutrals and an absolute rollercoaster of emotions for supporters of the two clubs. We agree with Prutton that it will be a 1-1 draw.