Leeds v Harrogate Town preview: Team news, where to watch, prediction, lineups

Leeds v Harrogate Town preview: Team news, where to watch, prediction, lineups

Leeds United will be looking for an easy FA Cup advancement when they play Harrogate Town in the third round.

Daniel Farke is anticipated to rotate significantly for the match against the League Two side on Saturday (11 January), with several first-team regulars due for a well-deserved break.

The Whites are still on course to win the Championship coming into the second half of the season, but they will be expecting for a lot easier day in West Yorkshire after blowing a two-goal lead in the closing 10 minutes of their 3-3 draw with Hull City last time out.

Preview

Although Hull interrupted Leeds’ momentum by lowering their Championship lead to one point, the East Yorkshire club will shortly finalize the loan signing of Joe Gelhardt [Baz Cooper].

With one less transfer headache to deal with at Elland Road, Farke can concentrate on what seems to be a straightforward route to the FA Cup fourth round.

Harrogate are struggling for survival in the fourth tier of English football, with just a five-point lead above the relegation zone.

Furthermore, Simon Weaver has only won once in his past five league games, and while coming off a 2-0 victory over Barrow, they are due to play one of the Championship’s most in-form teams.

Even with a high squad rotation, Farke’s team is capable of defeating the League Two strugglers at Elland Road, but nothing is assured in the FA Cup.

Form Guide (league competitions)

Leeds United: DDWWW.

Harrogate Town: WLDLL.

Head-to-Head [All Competitions]

Harrogate Town 0–3 Leeds United (19 July, 2024).

Harrogate Town 1–1 Leeds United (10 July 2015)

Team News for Leeds United against Harrogate Town

The Whites will be without forwards Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford for the FA Cup encounter, with the latter anticipated to be out for a month.

Max Wober will also miss the weekend’s action owing to a knee ailment, while Ilia Gruev and Junior Firpo are still recovering from their individual injuries.

Weaver will be missing key first-team players for the trip to Elland Road, including George Thomson, Liam Gibson, Ellis Taylor, James Moorby, Eno Nto, Josh Falkingham, and Matty Foulds.

Predicted lineups for Leeds United against Harrogate Town

Leeds United: Darlow, Bogle, Debayo, Ampadu, Byram, Rothwell, Guilavogui, Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani, and Joseph

Harrogate: Belshaw, Sims, O’Connor, Moon, Burrell, Cornelius, Sutton, Morris, Dooley, Muldoon, March

Where can I watch?

The match at Elland Road starts at 5:45pm GMT on January 9 and will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer.

Alternatively, fans may hear commentary on BBC Radio Leeds.

Prediction: Harrogate Town 0–3 Leeds United.

The Whites should easily win at Elland Road against a weakened Harrogate Town side.

While the disparity in quality between the teams would persist if the visitors had a completely fit squad, injuries have dashed any hopes of a miraculous FA Cup win.

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