Leeds United return to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, buoyed by a vital midweek win that has reinvigorated their push for automatic promotion. As Preston North End come to town hoping to arrest their own worrying slide, both sides enter this clash with vastly different aspirations, but only one looks like fulfilling them.
After a brief wobble that saw them draw three straight games, Leeds United roared back to life with a gritty but deserved 1-0 win at Middlesbrough earlier this week. Daniel James, in top form once again, struck the decisive blow just two minutes in, and while the Whites were frustrated by a string of questionable offside calls, they did more than enough to emerge victorious.
That win extended Leeds United’s unbeaten run in the Championship to five matches, and more importantly, catapulted them back to the top of the table, level on points with Burnley and narrowly ahead of Sheffield United in the tense three-way battle for the top two spots. With just five games to go, every point matters and Leeds are hitting form at just the right time.
At Elland Road, the West Yorkshire outfit have been near-unplayable. The Whites are on a 17-game unbeaten home run in the EFL Championship, and their attacking output has been relentless with 49 goals scored in 20 home matches, making it a fortress few teams relish visiting.
Still, despite the momentum, Daniel Farke will be aware that not everything is clicking perfectly. Leading scorer Joel Piroe has now gone seven matches without a goal, and with the business end of the campaign looming, Leeds will need their No. 9 firing again if they are to finish the job and secure a Premier League return.
In contrast, it has been a tough spring for Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston North End, who appear destined for yet another season of mid-table anonymity. Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City was the latest in a series of stumbles, as the Lilywhites threw away a late lead and Yakou Meite’s stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out earlier goals from Milutin Osmajic and Stefan Thordarson.
That result extended Preston’s poor run to just one win in their last ten league games, a stretch that has seen them slide to 16th in the table, seven points above the drop zone but long since out of playoff contention.
Preston’s away form has been particularly bleak, just three wins from 20 matches on the road all season, the last of which came in early February at struggling Norwich City. Against a promotion-chasing Leeds side with the Championship’s most fearsome home record, Heckingbottom’s men will be massive underdogs.
Goals have largely come through traditional means where Emil Riis Jakobsen and Milutin Osmajic have combined for 18 goals. However, there has been little support elsewhere. With Leeds pressing high and dominating possession, it is hard to see how Preston will get the service they need to make their physical forwards a factor. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Leeds United will be forced to shuffle their attacking options this weekend following confirmation that Daniel James, who scored the winning goal at Middlesbrough in midweek, has suffered a hamstring injury. The Welsh winger is now expected to miss the remainder of the campaign, dealing a significant blow to Leeds United’s frontline at a crucial stage of the promotion run-in.
Meanwhile, defensive concerns persist for Daniel Farke, as Pascal Struijk remains unavailable due to a foot injury sustained during the recent draw with Luton Town. His absence further reduces depth in central defence, with Ethan Ampadu likely to continue deputising alongside Joe Rodon.
Up front, Patrick Bamford is pushing for a starting role following several impressive cameos off the bench since his return from injury. While Joel Piroe has struggled for form, Farke may give him another chance to rediscover his scoring touch, though the pressure to deliver is mounting.
Leeds are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Karl Darlow will continue in goal, shielded by a back four of Jayden Bogle at right-back, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu at the heart of the defence, and Junior Firpo on the left.
In midfield, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev will anchor the double pivot, providing stability and linking play through the middle of the pitch. Further forward, Wilfried Gnonto is likely to replace the injured James on the right wing, with Brenden Aaronson operating as the central attacking midfielder and Manor Solomon on the left.
Leading the line will be Joel Piroe, who retains his starting spot for now, though he will be aware that Patrick Bamford is ready to step in if his goal drought continues. The pressure will be on Leeds’ attacking unit to deliver against a vulnerable Preston defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Preston North End’s injury problems continue to mount as the season nears its conclusion, with key figures unavailable for Saturday’s daunting trip to Elland Road. First-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury, a significant blow given his importance between the sticks throughout the campaign.
In defence, Brad Potts is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Jack Whatmough remains out of contention due to a calf issue. These absences leave manager Paul Heckingbottom with a thinner backline and few options for rotation. There are no new suspensions in the squad, but the injuries have forced a tactical rethink, especially in defence and goalkeeping, where backup players will be called upon once again.
Preston are expected to adopt a 3-5-2 formation at Elland Road. David Cornell will start in goal in place of the injured Woodman. The back three will likely consist of Ryan Porteous, Lewis Gibson, and Andrew Hughes, with the trio tasked with containing Leeds United’s quick transitional play and wide threats.
In midfield, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Robbie Brady will operate as wing-backs, providing width on the flanks and supporting both ends of the pitch. The central trio will include Stefan Teitur Thordarson, Ben Whiteman, and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, who will be responsible for breaking up Leeds’s midfield rhythm and linking up with the forwards.
Up front, Will Keane will be paired with Milutin Osmajic in the attack. With 18 goals between them this season, they remain Preston North End’s most reliable route to goal, though they will need quality service and clinical finishing to trouble a Leeds side in top form at home.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Cornell; Porteous, Gibson, Hughes; Kesler-Hayden, Thordarson, Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady; Keane, Osmajic
Leeds United have lost just one of their last seven league meetings with Preston (W3 D3), with the only defeat coming in a 2-1 loss at Deepdale in December 2023.
Preston have managed just one win in their last 12 away league games against Leeds United since 1963 (D4 L7), a 6-4 victory in September 2010.
Leeds have scored 80 goals in the Championship this season, just one shy of their all-time second-tier record of 81 goals set in both 2010/11 and 2023/24. They last surpassed 81 in 1969/70, when they scored 84.
Preston North End have won only one of their last ten league games (D6 L3), and they have lost three of their last four away matches in the Championship (D1).
Dan James has scored 12 league goals this season, just one behind his career-best 13 from last season. Interestingly, when he last scored in three straight league games (January 2024), the third goal came against Preston at Elland Road.
With Leeds United entering the final stretch of a fierce promotion race, Joel Piroe remains a key figure despite enduring a goal drought in recent weeks. The Dutch striker, brought in with the expectation of leading the line in a Premier League push, has not found the net in his last seven appearances. However, his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments still makes him one to watch.
Piroe is more than just a poacher. His intelligent movement, strong link-up play, and instinct for finding pockets of space in the box allow Leeds United to operate with fluidity in the final third. Even when he’s not scoring, he helps stretch defences and creates chances for attacking midfielders like Brenden Aaronson and wide players like Wilfried Gnonto and Manor Solomon.
Saturday’s clash with a leaky Preston defence, particularly one struggling for cohesion on the road, presents an ideal opportunity for Piroe to break his dry spell. As Patrick Bamford continues to push for minutes from the bench, the pressure is on Piroe to remind everyone why he is Daniel Farke’s first-choice striker.
If Leeds United are to maintain their grip on the top of the table and secure promotion without needing the playoffs, they will need Joel Piroe to rediscover his scoring touch, starting this weekend.
Leeds United are surging toward the finish line with purpose and momentum, while Preston appear to be limping toward the summer break. The gulf in quality, form, and motivation makes this feel like a one-sided affair, especially at Elland Road, where Leeds United have been ruthlessly efficient. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.
