In the other pick of this weekend’s Championship action, 4th placed West Brom play host to 2nd placed Sheffield United at The Hawthorns in what is a massive game for both clubs in their respective promotion campaigns.
Just one point separates West Brom from their visitors, but the hosts will be in confident mood having won three of their last four in the second tier with recent wins gained over Stoke City, Aston Villa and QPR, with the most impressive aspect being that all three were away from home.
Indeed, the pressure of having to get results at The Hawthorns for West Brom may be of a similar problem for Leeds United at Elland Road the moment as West Brom are without a win from their last four matches on home turf.
The Baggies have drawn three of these last four with stalemates against Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, along with a 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough with former West Brom manager, Tony Pulis getting one over his former employers.
West Brom possess a home record of W7 D6 L3 scored 37 and conceded 23 goals, but although the hosts got off to a flyer as they racked up six wins from the first nine matches at home, the wins have since dried up significantly.
Sheffield United bring a five match unbeaten sequence into this crucial clash having recorded wins against Bolton Wanderers, Middlesbrough and Reading along with points shared with Norwich City and Aston Villa in 2-2 and 3-3 draws respectively.
Sheffield United have won their last six home matches on the trot in the Championship, but interestingly, their results away from home in recent weeks are very similar to West Brom’s home results as The Blades have captured just one win from their last five matches on their travels.
That win came in a 3-0 victory at lowly Wigan Athletic, but along with one defeat at Swansea City 1-0, the others have also been draws with Ipswich Town, and the aforementioned Norwich City and Aston Villa.
United possess a similar away record too with W7 D4 L5 scored 27 and conceded 21 goals, and there appears to be very little between these two sides prior to this massive Saturday afternoon clash.
In the last four meetings between these two clubs, there have been two draws, and there’s plenty to suggest that this encounter could also end up all square too.