Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has suggested that Marcelo Bielsa will be nonplussed by his Leeds United side being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in their penalty shoot-out defeat to Stoke on Tuesday night.
Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa rescued a 2-2 draw for Leeds in normal time at Elland Road but Jack Harrison’s missed spot-kick meant the Whites tasted defeat for the first time this season.
Ex-Leeds midfielder Prutton is not surprised by his former club’s strong start in the Championship, but cannot say the same about Swansea, who are behind the league-leading Whites only on goal difference.
Prutton expects it to be a good game at Elland Road when those two teams take each other on this weekend, predicting a 2-2 draw.
“Leeds crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek but I don’t think that will bother Marcelo Bielsa too much. They have a relatively thin squad and now they can turn their attention fully to their promotion bid,” said Prutton on the Sky Sports website.
“I think most people were expecting Leeds to be there or thereabouts this season, but I can’t imagine the same would have been said of Swansea. It is early days but Steve Cooper is doing an excellent job so far. I back them to grab a point at Elland Road.”
Previous meetings
Leeds have only played against Swansea four times in the last 10 years and two of those fixtures came last season following the Welsh side’s relegation from the Premier League.
They drew 2-2 at the Liberty Stadium last season before Leeds ran out 2-1 winners when they met at Elland Road in February.
Pontus Jansson and Harrison were on the scoresheet in that match before former Whites youngster Oli McBurnie scored from the penalty spot late on.
Harrison is the only one of those goalscorers still at the same club and after his penalty miss against Stoke, he will no doubt want to score for the second match in a row against the Swans to get himself back on form.
Leeds have won 20 of their 38 meetings with Swansea, while there have been seven draws and 11 wins the way of the Welsh side.
Key man – Pablo Hernandez
He may be 34-years-old but Hernandez is showing no sign of slowing down and he is bound to be the main man for Leeds when they take on the winger’s former side Swansea on Saturday.
Hernandez has scored two goals and supplied two assists in five Championship appearances so far this campaign.
According to the Leeds United Stat Zone Twitter account, no other player in the second-tier has created more chances than the ex-Spain international since the start of last season.
If Leeds are going to get anything out of their game against Swansea, they will need a big game from the experienced attacker.