Match Preview: Leeds United (A)

19 January 2024

Less than a month on from the Boxing Day victory over Leeds United, North End are off to Elland Road this Sunday for a 12pm kick-off.

Match Details

Date: Sunday 21^st January, 12pm kick-off
Venue: Elland Road
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Third kit

Supporter Information

Tickets are no longer on sale for this fixture and there will be none available to purchase on the day of the match.

Tickets can be collected during the 90 minutes before kick-off from the visitors ticket window, which is adjacent to away turnstiles one and two. Please note, photo ID will be required for collections at Elland Road.

Leeds United have a prayer room which can accommodate a maximum of two people at once in the West Stand. Supporters who wish to use the prayer room on the day are asked to email wellbeing@leedsunited.com and an escort will be arranged.

Supporters are reminded about the strong measures in football this season, such as stadium bans and criminal prosecution, for dangerous and illegal behaviour at matches. This includes tragedy abuse, entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics, and discriminatory behaviour.

Who’s Available?

In his pre-match interview, manager Ryan Lowe shared that there has been illness within the squad during the previous few days, however he was hopeful players would be back fit and available to feature.

However, the injuries which kept Ched Evans and Jack Whatmough sidelined last weekend will see them miss out again on Sunday.

Brad Potts, who limped off against Bristol City in the previous outing, has recovered from a toe infection and is expected to make his 200th North End appearance at Elland Road.

Opposition Focus

In their first season back in the Championship, Leeds United are well on track to achieve at least a Play-Off spot as they look to make an instant return to the top flight.

After losing to North End on Boxing Day, Daniel Farke’s men were then beaten away from home against West Brom, however 3-0 wins against Birmingham City and Cardiff City have seen them get back on track.

They’ve got work to do to close the seven-point gap between themselves and second-placed Ipswich Town, but there’s certainly no shortage of quality within their ranks.

A Recent Clash

A stunning strike from Liam Millar in the 89^th minute earned North End a Boxing Day victory over Leeds United.

Follow The Action

As this fixture has been selected for main coverage on Sky Sports, the match will not be available to watch on iFollow in the majority of regions worldwide. To see if you can watch the game, click here and if the option is available to buy a video match pass, then the fixture is available in your location.

Fans worldwide can, however, listen to live commentary as usual, with Jonathan Breeze and David Buchanan on the mic. You can buy a match or monthly pass here.

There will also be extensive coverage here on the website and across the club's social media channels.

Match Officials

Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referees: Rob Smith and Matthew Smith
Fourth Official: Tom Nield

David Webb will referee his third North End fixture of the season this weekend, following the opening day draw with Bristol City and the trip to Portman Road in October.

Webb has shown 73 yellow cards and one red during the 19 matches he's taken charge of so far this season.

Match Reports

Match Report: Leeds United 2 PNE 1

21 January 2024

A 94th-minute Joël Piroe penalty saw Preston North End agonisingly beaten 2-1 by Leeds United at Elland Road.

PNE got off to a brilliant start as Will Keane scored his ninth goal of the campaign inside 65 seconds, but the hosts had a quick response and were soon level through Dan James.

North End battled superbly for the rest of the game and it looked as though the points would be shared, until a penalty gave Piroe the opportunity to score late.

North End were hindered by illness on their trip to Yorkshire, with Duane Holmes, Freddie Woodman and Milutin Osmajić all missing, meaning there was a start for Dai Cornell in goal.

David Webb’s whistle had hardly been blown before North End raced into a lead. A Ben Whiteman free-kick was won in the air by Liam Lindsay and, after a miskick by Brad Potts, the ball fell to Millar and he drilled it into a dangerous area where Keane was waiting to tap home.

The goal silenced Elland Road but not for long, as Junior Firpo galloped down the left and had his cross headed past Cornell by James.

It was a frantic start which only continued and PNE could have retaken the lead in the 11^th minute when Millar was played through down the left, however the Canadian saw his effort tipped away from the top corner by Illan Meslier.

Play finally seemed to settle from that point as the hosts started to see more of the ball, but by no means were they dominant as North End pressed high and looked dangerous in possession.

Daniel Farke’s men then came out on the front foot in the second period and were denied by the post two minutes in when Crysencio Summerville’s cross was diverted goalwards by Georginio Rutter.

Patrick Bamford and Summerville then had further opportunities within the next few attacks, while there was a scare in the 50^th minute when Cornell had to come rushing out to meet James, and a combination of the goalkeeper and Liam Lindsay just about dealt with the danger.

PNE were having to do more defending but still looked threatening on the break, with Potts enjoying a few attacks down the right and Millar asking the usual questions on the opposite flank.

There were a flurry of bookings towards the end of the game as tensions ran high in the home ranks on and off the pitch, and it looked as though North End were doing enough to hold on to a point.

That was until Ryan Ledson was penalised for a handball inside the area and Piroe stepped up to score from the spot in the fourth of six added minutes.

Leeds United line-up: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo (Byram, 76); Gruev, Kamara (Piroe, 76); James, Rutter (Joseph, 90+8), Summerville (Cooper, 90+6); Bamford. Subs not used: Klaesson, Anthony, Shackleton, Poveda, Gelhardt.

PNE line-up: Cornell; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, McCann (Ledson, 70), Millar (Browne, 77); Frøkjær (Woodburn, 90); Riis (Stewart, 77), Keane (Brady, 77). Subs not used: Pradic, Cunningham, Bauer, Best.

Attendance: 36,570 (1,881 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr D Webb.