31/3/2012 Championship Leeds 0-2 WFC

[domthehornet]

This Saturday Sean Dyche's Watford travel up the M1 to play Niel 'Colin' Warnock's Leeds United at Elland Road. Leeds currently reside 10th place in the table 3 points,and four places, ahead of the Hornets and 3 points off the play off places. Both teams come into the game on the back of wins with Watford beating Ipswich 2-1 at Vicarage Road and Leeds beating Keeny Jacketts Millwall 1-0 at The Den. Leeds last home game was a humiliating 7-3 loss to struggling Nottingham Forest with Gareth McLeary scoring 4 goals. The last meeting between these two sides was a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road with Marvin Sordell scoring for the Hornets before missing a penalty to put the game beyond doubt at 2-0, before Robert Snodgrass netting an equaliser from the penalty spot in the last few minutes of injury time. The last time Watford travelled to Elland Road they drew 2-2 with Lee Hodson scoring his one and only goal for the Hornet's and the other from Andreas Weimann and Troy Deeney scoring an embarassing Own Goal. I'm sure most peoples favourite memory against Leeds is the 3-0 play off final win at Cardiff that saw the Hornets promoted to the Premiership at the expense of Leeds.

Last Saturday Watford beat Ipswich, a side who now has gone 8 years without beating Watford, 2-1 with goals from Sean Murray and a superb goal from Troy Deeney with Jay Emmanuel Thomas capitalising from a mistake by Carl Dickinson to put Ipswich ahead. Watford will be without both Fulham loanees who both have returned back to their parent club. Marcello Trotta will be no huge miss, but Alex Kacaniklic on the other hand shall be. It is not known yet who will play out on the wing with Forsyth, Yeates, Whichelow and Assombalonga trying to get a starting spot. Stephen McGinn is rumoured to be fit enough to be on the bench against Leeds which is a great boost to the squad. It is not known whether Marriappa is going to be fit to play, with Martin Taylor looking to fill in in his absenceIt has just been confirmed that bpoth Marriappa and McGinn will miss the game and are the only doubts for Watford.. It is also not yet known whether Hodson will be available to play with Doyley staying in his usual right back place. Jonathon Hogg suffered a knock against Ipswich and may miss out with Prince Buaben coming in in his place. Kuszczak will likely keep his place as the number one keeper. Watford's key player will be teen sensation Sean Murray who has bagged 5 goals and has 4 assists since coming into the team.


Leeds defeated Millwall at The Den with Ross McCormack grabbing the only goal of the game. Ex Hornet Paul Robinson is currently at Leeds on loan from Parent club Bolton and is set to face his old side on Saturday. Another ex Horn likely to face against us is Danny Webber who Warnock signed as a free agent. More team news to follow. Three key players to watch are Ross McCormack, Luciano Becchio and Robert Snodgrass who all pose an attacking threat.

Predicted Line Up:

Watford:

Kuszczak
Doyley
Taylor
Nosworthy
Dickinson
Murray
Eustace
Prince
Assombalonga
Deeney
Garner

Subs: Loach, Bennett, Yeates, Iwelumo, Forsyth
Leeds:

Lonergan
Bruce
Lees
Robinson
Bromby (ex Hornet)
Brown
Clayton
Snodgrass
Webber
Becchio
McCormack

Subs: Pugh, Connolly, Thompson, Rogers, Forsell

Prediction: I have a feeling that there will be a fair few goals in this one, so I'm going for 3-2 to Leeds. I would happily settle for a point though, hopefully they have underestimated us and allow us to capitalise on this. We haven't beaten Leeds in 9 league games so heres hoping we finally get a win against them.

[J.B]

Can see Iwelumo starting for this one.

[Oscar calling]

Can see Iwelumo starting for this one.

I would actually rather have him than Garner!

[Nnnn]

I would actually rather have him than Garner!

Agreed. Neither could score in a brothel but big chris is now playing well & creating space for troy.

[LLST]

Mariappa's injured still isn't he? I would think Buaben will start instead of Hoggy as he's gone off the boil a bit. Agree that we'll probably go with Big Chris after the last couple of games and we probably won't see a lot of possession.

[hornetboy1]

Mariappa's injured still isn't he? I would think Buaben will start instead of Hoggy as he's gone off the boil a bit. Agree that we'll probably go with Big Chris after the last couple of games and we probably won't see a lot of possession.

Mapps said he was aiming to be fit for this game, so I think he may have a late fitness test.

[Cassetti's Beard]

Huge game, really hope we go all out to get the 3 points, we've got nothing to lose. The pressure is on Leeds, lets hope it get to them!

[LLST]

After the last few games I'd probably go with Mapps and Tiny at centre back then if he's fit. I'd imagine after last Saturday Hodson will come in for Dicko with Lloyd moving over to left back.

[wfcloyal]

Kuszczak Hodson nos mapps doyley Murray eustace prince yeates Deeney iwelumo. Subs loach Taylor mcginn Assombalonga garner

[NemoNemo]

This is a must win game for Leeds after their last home thrashing against Forest. Leeds will be under a lot more pressure which I think will be an advantage to us. I would also play Prince in midfield instead of Hogg and put Assombalonga out on the wing. I think by choosing Yeates, we will be too flat in attack and will resort to crosses and route 1 football all game. I think we should stick with Taylor and Nosworthy in defence for now and wait until Mariappa is completely fit. It's good that we have had to change the centre pairing up this season and there is competition for places. Big Chris to start up front with Deeney. I predict a draw for this one. 2-2 with our goals scored by Eustace and Deeney.

[Hornet23]

This is a must win game for Leeds after their last home thrashing against Forest. Leeds will be under a lot more pressure which I think will be an advantage to us. I would also play Prince in midfield instead of Hogg and put Assombalonga out on the wing. I think by choosing Yeates, we will be too flat in attack and will resort to crosses and route 1 football all game. I think we should stick with Taylor and Nosworthy in defence for now and wait until Mariappa is completely fit. It's good that we have had to change the centre pairing up this season and there is competition for places. Big Chris to start up front with Deeney. I predict a draw for this one. 2-2 with our goals scored by Eustace and Deeney.

If we're playing Big Chris I think that's a given.

[domthehornet]

On the Leeds Forums they refer to us as the Bee's.

I really hope we turn these c0cks over.

[JLuck16]

Really hope we start Britt, McCleary is similar to Britt and look what happened there...

[DrewH]

Stephen McGinn is rumoured to be fit enough to be on the bench.

Where did you hear this? McGinn and Mariappa remain out according to the WO.

I'd go for a 4-4-2 diamond.

TK
Doyley Nosworthy Taylor Dickinson (Hodson if fit)
Hogg
Eustace Buaben
Murray
Deeney Iwelumo

Subs: Loach, Bennett, Yeates, Assombalonga, Garner.

[domthehornet]

Where did you hear this? McGinn and Mariappa remain out according to the WO.

I'd go for a 4-4-2 diamond.

TK
Doyley Nosworthy Taylor Dickinson (Hodson if fit)
Hogg
Eustace Buaben
Murray
Deeney Iwelumo

Subs: Loach, Bennett, Yeates, Assombalonga, Garner.

Thought I had deleted that line, further in the paragraph I have put about them missing the game.

[El distraído]

Just had a look on twitter and Deeney is currently in a bit of a flap because his roommate (Buaben) has shotgunned the only double bed lol.

https://twitter.com/#!/T_Deeney

[Cassetti's Beard]

Just had a look on twitter and Deeney is currently in a bit of a flap because his roommate (Buaben) has shotgunned the only double bed lol.

https://twitter.com/#!/T_Deeney

lmao!!!

[A. Web]

Decisions Decisions do I really want to pay £34 to get in? If we win it will be a worth while investment but if we lose it will sour my mood the whole week especially when I see Leeds fans walking around....

[Malteser]

I see a very tough afternoon ahead. Would take a point now!

[wfcmoog]

this is a must win if we're to make the play offs