Dean Smith's men to be the Villans at Elland Road
Leeds face Aston Villa at Elland Road with the automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread and Dean Smith’s side could just be the ones to cut them loose.
Not all White on the night
Marcelo Bielsa’s sides have this reputation for fading at the most crucial time of the season. His high-intensity brand of football has proven before that it is unsustainable and it appears to be going that way again.
Leeds have now lost four of their last seven Championship games including the last two back-to-back. In 2019 Bielsa’s side have taken 31 points from a possible 57 which is not great if you have serious automatic promotion ambitions.
This run has seen Sheffield United take advantage and the Blades now have a three-point gap on the Whites with just two left to play. Chris Wilder’s side also have a far better goal difference which means just one more win will see them up short of a miracle on the final day.
10 on the spin for the Villans
Dean Smith’s side are on an incredible run of form. Having won 10 games during their first 34 matches this season they have now won the last 10 games back-to-back.
During this run they have conceded just six goals and scored an impressive 23. If you believe momentum is a real thing in football then these guys have it in abundance.
Everyone is really starting to believe that this Villa side can win the play-offs, where they are now destined to finish and regain their Premier League status. In fact, Sunday’s game could well be dress rehearsal of a potential play-off.
Head-to-head
Despite everyone fawning over Leeds this season, and rightly so at times, Villa have been less well credited.
No side has created more chance (283) in the Championship this season than Aston Villa.
John McGinn has been the Villa’s most creative player in term of goal scoring chances laid on for his teammates with 40 but Leeds have a master with Pablo Hernandez. If Dean Smith’s side can keep him quite then that is already half the job done.
Jack Grealish has also been brilliant, completing 137 successful dribbles in the Championship, second only to Nottingham Forest’s Joe Lolley and showing what a mature player he can be.
Leeds United - Aston Villa Betting tip
With Leeds United wobbling and the pressure mounting they couldn’t hope for a worse time to play a side on a 10 match winning run. Therefore, backing Aston Villa to win at odds of 4/1 appears to be excellent value for your pound.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
Villa didn't quite have enough in a controversial game at Elland Road