OPINION
While Leeds United might have slipped up once this week against Queens Park Rangers they have the chance to regain their place at the top of the table before the weekend comes around against West Brom.
In what is a busy couple of days for Marcelo Bielsa and his men, the Whites will play host to the Baggies on Friday night in a clash between two promotion chasing sides.
Victory for the Elland Road outfit would put them back at the peak of the Championship, leapfrogging Sheffield United and Norwich City, while a win for the visitors would see them one point behind Leeds and the Blades and three behind the Canaries.
As it is such a crucial game, the team that Bielsa names is pivotal to success and after such a disappointing defeat to QPR there would surely have been thoughts of changing things up – especially when coming up against a side as potent as West Brom.
As quoted by journalist Lee Sobot, Bielsa admitted the Baggies’ strength lies in their forward line but despite that he would keep faith in the same starting XI and bench – a significant reveal from the boss.
Bielsa on West Brom: "West Brom's main skills are the quantity and the quality of the offensive players."#lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) February 28, 2019
Bielsa on team news – any new injuries or knocks: "No. It's going to be the same team and the same bench." #lufc @LeedsNews
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) February 28, 2019
Quite frankly, some of the Leeds squad can consider themselves fortunate to survive, not least full back pair Luke Ayling and Ezgjan Alioski.
Neither were at the races against QPR and if they put in a similar performance against a side with as much quality as West Brom, they are going to find themselves torn to shreds.
Barry Douglas and Jamie Shackleton are set to remain on the bench but they must be wondering what they have to do to force their way into the starting XI, for if this is not a game for rotation then when is?
Ayling and Alioski will start but whether they should be is another matter entirely. At the end of the day, Bielsa saw the warning signs against QPR and has not taken action – whether that comes back to bite him remains to be seen.