Leeds vs Stoke prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-04 19:45.
After an incredible nine-game winning streak in the Championship, Leeds United were finally reminded what it was like to drop points as they drew 1-1 with Huddersfield at the weekend. They might be bitterly disappointed they didn’t get all three points, but with league-leaders Leicester City losing a third successive game, Daniel Farke’s men will feel they’re well and truly in the title race being just five points adrift!
There's no better place for the Whites to close that gap than Elland Road, seeing as they’re undefeated on home soil this Championship campaign (W13, D4). A win against upcoming opponents Stoke City would see them capture a seventh successive home league win, a streak of victories they’ve already achieved once this season. But replicating that run here isn’t a foregone conclusion, given Leeds have lost five of their last eight H2Hs (W3).
It’s no surprise that Stoke will make the trip as hefty underdogs given Leeds’ formidable home record, although they did receive a timely confidence boost in the form of a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at the weekend. That was a much needed victory for Steven Schumacher, who would reportedly have lost his job had he not won that game, having overseen six defeats from seven matches beforehand (W1).
That dismal run saw them plummet into the relegation zone, which they now head up in 22nd place after this past weekend's victory. Escaping the dreaded bottom three by getting a result on the road seems improbable at the moment, since the Potters haven’t only lost their last three away games, but have also won just one of their last 11 league trips to Leeds (D4, L6).
Players to watch: Patrick Bamford will be looking to make amends for missing a penalty in Leeds’ 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture, and could do so by scoring the match opener for a fifth time this league season. Searching for a third goal in as many games is Stoke’s Bae Jun-ho, whose last two strikes both came just between the 40th minute and half-time.
Hot stat: Leeds are the only side yet to lose a game after opening the scoring this Championship season, winning 16 and drawing twice when finding the net first.