Preview: Town – Leeds

By Aston
January 31 2006

STB brings you team news, manager previews, betting odds and the officials ahead of Towns game against Leeds United tonight (KO 7:45pm).

Town manager Joe Royle will be without midfield pair Gavin Williams and Jimmy Juan for tonight’s game, Williams has jarred his knee while Juan is serving a one game ban for picking up five yellow cards, Dean Bowditch is on-loan at Wycombe and also misses out. Kevin Horlock returns to the squad as does Adam Proudlock.

Town manager Joe Royle: no pre-match thoughts currently available.

Town Squad: Scott Barron, Darren Currie, Jason De Vos, Owen Garvan, Danny Haynes, Kevin Horlock, Jim Magilton, Dean McDonald, Alan Lee, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Adam Proudlock, Matt Richards, Luis Sito, Shane Supple, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

Leeds will be with out defender Matt Kilgallon and midfielder Eirik Bakke is also going to miss out with a hamstring injury but striker Rob Hulse is back from a ban, although he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell: “That was our most disappointing defeat of the season, their people said afterwards we were the first team to take them apart like that, but we hit the post four times and missed a penalty, and they took their only two chances of the game.

“Things are supposed to even themselves out and I would be more than happy with the same performance tonight.

“We should have beaten them that day, we played well at Ipswich last season and lost to a Mickey Mouse goal.

“The difference between now and then, though, is that we won't be worried about them.”

Match Odds From Willhill.com

Town: 13/8

Draw: 21/10

Leeds: 11/8

STB Prediction: Town 2-0 Leeds (10/1)

Officials:

Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent)

Assistants: S G Artis (Norfolk) and N Kinseley (Essex)

Fourth Official: J R Lodge (Essex)