Apparently Leeds United got a decent result at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Did you hear about it? Well, now Leeds must go back to the bread-and-butter gloomy 3rd tier by visiting in form Swindon Town. The Robins have failed to beat Leeds in a league fixture for almost 20 years and will be desperate to end this run.
Quotes:
Talking on their official website – Leeds United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren stated the importance of the Swindon fixture, he said that once a clubs gets ‘a good result, a couple of days later you have to be at it again, and we have to be professional. We enjoyed it on Saturday, but you start thinking about Swindon and that is an important game for us now.’
Meanwhile, Town assistant manager Peter Shirtliff has reminded us that Swindon are up for the upcoming fight with Leeds. Talking on the official Swindon Town website he stated that ‘Top versus fifth is always going to be an excellent game, and I don’t expect this to be any different.’ Here’s hoping!
SWINDON TOWN Team News:
Simon Ferry was scheduled to be playing his final game. However, his deal has been extended and will start tomorrow knowing he’s here until May.
Vincent Pericard should be fit and is likely to start on the bench.
Alan Sheehan and Alan O’Brien are definately out.
Player to watch: CHARLIE AUSTIN
This is Charlie’s first game in front of a BIG Swindon crowd. In fact, it’s most of the sides first fixture in front of a near capacity County Ground.
It’s absolutely crucial that the whole squad are on form but what a great opportunity for the former Poole Town marksman to become a hero.
LEEDS UNITED Team News:
Leeds boss Simon Grayson has no new injury problems ahead as he prepares his side for the County Ground on Tuesday night.
Leeds Side that Drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday
Casper Ankergren, Jason Crowe, Patrick Kisnorbo, Leigh Bromby, Michael Doyle (Luciano Becchio 80′), Neil Kilkenny, Bradley Johnson (Aiden White 88′), Andy Hughes, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass, Jermaine Beckford.
SNU: Andy Robinson, David Martin, David Prutton, Lubomir Michalik, Mike Grella.
Other Players
Rui Marques, Richard Naylor, Shane Higgs, Ben Parker, Tresor Kandol, Paul Huntingdon, Alan Martin, Davide Somma, Max Gradel, Ryan Jones.
Out on Loan
Alan Sheehan (Swindon Town), Tom Elliott (Bury), Tom Lees (Accrington Stanley).
Player to watch: JERMAINE BECKFORD
In truth, Leeds United have a few decent players but Beckford is the man that can change matches with his ability in front of goal. This is something Town fans have witnessed in the last year or so – Beckford scored 3 against Swindon last season.
Match Facts & Stats
Town have a far inferior Head-to-Head record with Leeds. Town have won only once in 14 league fixtures, losing 9 and drawing 4.
Played for Both Clubs
Town currently have several links to Leeds at the moment. Although injured, Alan Sheehan is currently on loan from Leeds while Jonathan Douglas and David Lucas (two of Town’s most valued players this season) both arrived in Wiltshire this summer having been released on Free Transfers from Elland Road.
Other players to have played for both sides include Chris Kamara, James Milner, Curtis Weston, David Kerslake and Alan Fowler. The latter played 15 times for Leeds United in the First Division between 1932-1934 before joining Swindon.
Fowler was a prolific goalscorer in Wiltshire scoring 102 goals in all competitions (he played 224 times)
Sadly, Fowler died during the Second World War.
Encounters from 2008/09
14/03/09: Leeds United 1-0 Swindon Town
LUFC: Jermaine Beckford 87′
LUFC: Casper Ankergren, Jonathan Douglas, Rui Marques, Ben Parker (Mike Grella 84′), Richard Naylor, Neil Kilkenny (Bradley Johnson 79′), Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass, Jermaine Beckford (Sent off), Luciano Becchio (Liam Dickinson 79′)
SNU:
STFC: Phil Smith, Jamie Vincent, Gordon Greer, Sean Morrison, Kevin Amankwaah, Anthony McNamee (Jack Smith 83′), Owain Tudur Jones, Michael Timlin, Hal Robson-Kanu, Billy Paynter, Simon Cox.
SNU: Jerel Ifil, Lilian Nalis, Hamdi Razak, Peter Brezovan.
13/09/08: Swindon Town 1-3 Leeds United
LUFC: Jermaine Beckford 22′
STFC: Simon Cox 45′
LUFC: Neil Kilkenny 50′
LUFC: Jermaine Beckford 84′
STFC: Phil Smith, Jack Smith, Hasney Aljofree, Jerel Ifil, Kevin Amankwaah, Anthony McNamee, Lilian Nalis, Craig Easton (Michael Timlin 69′), Jon-Paul McGovern (Mark Marshall 64′), Billy Paynter, Simon Cox
SNU: Sean Morrison, Lee Peacock, Mark Scott.
LUFC: David Lucas, Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques, Alan Sheehan Sent off), Paul Telfer, Jonathan Douglas, Neil Kilkenny (David Prutton 58′), Fabian Delph, Andy Hughes, Jermaine Beckford (Robert Snodgrass 85′), Luciano Becchio (Jonny Howson 58′).
SNU: Andy Robinson, Alan Martin.
Other Recent Meetings
01/03/08: STFC 0-1 LUFC
17/11/07: LUFC 2-1 STFC
Last Swindon Win vs. Leeds United
04/02/1990: Barclays Division Two
SWINDON TOWN 3-2 LEEDS UNITED
LUFC: Gordon Strachan (19′ Penalty)
STFC: Alan McLoughlin (37′)
STFC: Steve Foley (50′)
LUFC: John Hendrie (73′)
STFC: Ross MacLaren (76′)
STFC: Fraser Digby, David Kerslake, Paul Bodin, Alan McLoughlin, Colin Calderwood, Jon Gittens, Tommy Jones, Duncan Shearer, Steve White, Ross MacLaren, Steve Foley.
SNU: David Hockaday, Paul Hunt.
LUFC: Mervyn Day, Jim Beglin, Mike Whitlow (John Pearson 80′), Vinny Jones, Chris Fairclough, Peter Haddock, Gordon Strachan, David Batty, Lee Chapman, Dylan Kerr (Gary Speed 54′), John Hendrie.
First Ever Meeting
07/01/1922: F.A. Cup First Round
SWINDON TOWN 2-1 LEEDS UNITED
STFC: Harold Fleming
STFC: Harold Fleming
STFC: Len Skiller, Joe Colebourne, John MacConnachie, Tommy Langford, Fred Hawley, Billy Wareing, Tom Phillipson, Harold Fleming, Dave Rogers, Jack Johnson, Bertie Davies.
LUFC: Fred Whalley, Bert Duffield, Ralph Rodgerson, Harry Sherwin, Jim Baker, Jimmy Walton, George Mason, Len Armitage, Tommy Howarth, Jack Swan, Jimmy Moore.
Ref Watch:
P. Gibbs
Fixtures: 23
6 Championship
8 League One
5 League Two
2 F.A. Cup
1 League Cup
1 JP Trophy
76 Yellow Cards
2 Red Cards
Nathan Stanton (Rochdale)
Ben Clark (Hartlepool United
Assistant Referees: J. Busby & N. Hobbis
4th Official: C. Knowles
Match Prediction:
Since Leeds United found themselves in the 3rd tier we’ve failed to earn one single point against them. However, our current side is better than any other effort we’ve selected for their visit in the past.
I predict that we will huff and we will puff but unfortunately I can only see a loss (and that has nothing to do with the F.A. Cup run).
Swindon Town 1-2 Leeds United
Next Fixture: Southend United
On Saturday January 30 Town travel to Roots Hall to take on Southend United. Kick-Off 3pm.
Looks like this is going to be a sell-out. Obviously, we normally get a good gate when Leeds come to Town but their F.A. Cup run means that we’ll get a few more quid.
Hope your forecast is right! – I’m not quite so confident about it as you are. Fully expect Higgs and Douglas to have blinders, and I’d just about settle for a draw ……
I think you meant Lucas. Douglas has been on form all season so yeah I hope he does well against tomorrow.
Always a tricky one this for Leeds, I remember the last time you beat us at home in our promotion season (was that 20 years ago blimey) it was a very windy day match nearly called off 2-1 I think it was Mervin Day got poleaxed by two town players and another slotted in to an empty net.
We have gone off track in the league of late so any kind of a good performance from Leeds will be welcome I don’t expect owt but would take a 1-1 draw right now.
Thanks for your post silverking. There is a lot of excitement about this fixture which has more to do with Swindon’s position than Leeds’ exploits. We are desperate to show our worth but usually come up short when there is expectancy. Hopefully it’ll be a great match with a great atmosphere.