The Hatters welcome Leeds United to Kenilworth Road tomorrow, with Graeme Jones’ side hoping to bounce back from defeat prior to the international break.
After suffering a 3-0 loss away at Reading last time out, Town are back at home knowing that three points could propel them up to 19th place in the table, as they currently sit in 21st spot.
Meanwhile Leeds – who are unbeaten in their last five games – will be hoping to return to the Championship summit with victory.
International supporters are reminded they can stream and follow the game from Kenilworth Road live on iFollow Hatters. Subscribers can tune into Simon Pitts’ full match commentary as well.
Those coming to Kenilworth Road are reminded that Family Fun Day kicks-off from 12:30pm and includes lots of seasonal specials to enjoy during the build-up to the big game. For more information, click here.
GRAEME JONES SAID:
(Please note these quotes are taken from Graeme’s press conference on Friday afternoon)
On Leeds: “We always give the opponent the respect they deserve and we have done with Leeds. We are fully aware of their capabilities, their style and pattern of play but we’ve also got our own and we’ve got our own ambitions within the game, so I’m interested to see if we can execute our game plan and I’m looking forward to the game.”
On Bamford: “He’s excellent and he will test us. He’ll play behind our backline, he tries to stretch the game for Leeds and create space in-front and I think Bamford was £7 million. He’s a Premier League player that’s what he is, that is what we are dealing with and that’s what this league brings but again I go back to the original question, we need to relish it, (the game) we need to look forward to it and I’m sure we will.”
On Marcelo Bielsa: “I came up against him at West Brom when I was assistant manager but I’m fully aware of his team’s capabilities.
“I think Marcelo Bielsa is in a unique category because coaches worldwide study his method of work. There is not many coaches that have got that level of interest and quality, Pep Guardiola’s maybe one of them, Jurgen Klopp now but I was fortunate enough while I was assistant coach with the Belgium national team, Marcelo Bielsa on his way to taking the Lille job, did a presentation for the Belgium FA in Brussels.
“He spoke in Spanish, it was translated in Dutch and French and I was the only Englishman in the audience and he was showing videos of his work. So I’ve got an insight into what he does and I’ve got absolute respect for it.”
WHO?
After suffering relegation from the Premier League in 2004 and barring a three-year stint in League One until 2010, Leeds United have been Championship regulars ever since.
The Whites have won the First Division three times, last in 1992. Prior to that feat, Leeds were Football League Cup winners in 1968 and FA Cup winners in 1972, as well as Champions League semi-finalists in 2001.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Kick-off is 3pm at Kenilworth Road on Saturday 23rd November.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
The referee for Saturday’s game is John Brooks – who has taken charge of 12 games this season, dishing out 40 yellow cards.
TICKET INFORMATION
A handful of tickets are still available from the Ticket Office – please click here for more info.
PLAYED BEFORE?
The last meeting between the two sides was in 2016 in the League Cup second round, where Leeds were narrow 1-0 victors. The last league game took place in 2008 and the two teams played out a 1-1 draw. Overall Leeds hold the superior head-to-head record with 18 wins compared to Town’s 14 and there has been 15 draws between the two sides.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
The main blow-by-blow account of the action from Kenilworth Road will be provided via the Match Centre on the club website, which you can access by clicking here.
The main moments from the game will appear on the Hatters’ social media feeds:
Twitter – @LutonTown
Facebook – www.facebook.com/LutonTown/
Instagram – www.instagram.com/ltfc_official/