Six reasons why Leeds should fight back against Millwall

Leeds/Millwall, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire

Best friends Leeds and Millwall meet for the second time in six days tonight and it is the Londoners who travel to Yorkshire with a 1-0 advantage. Leeds have suffered plenty of play-off heartache in recent years but getting to finals hasn’t been their problem. Here are five stats which suggest they will qualify:

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1. Leeds boasted the best home record in League One this season, winning 17 of the 23 games they have hosted.

2. Their home form has been ever better under Simon Grayson, the 2007 play-off winning manager. They have won 12 straight home games, conceding just once in their last six.

3. The Whites have won their last three clashes with Millwall at Elland Road.

Posted: May 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The form side of the Football League continue their run

Five stats about last night’s Football League action

1. While Wolves, Leicester and Wycombe, the teams who led the three divisions at Christmas, have all endured blips since, the team with the best form in the Football League were bottom of the Championship on December 25. Doncaster won just four of their first 24 games in the division but since Yuletide have won seven and drawn one of their eight league games. That run has seen them climb to 15th, where they are eight points clear of the relegation zone.

2. Of course Leicester’s blip has been very minor, with the Foxes still sixteen points clear of Peterborough in third despite three successive draws. Nigel Pearson’s side endured a trio of ties earlier this season before losing away to Brighton which bodes well for in-form Bristol Rovers, who the league leaders visit on Saturday.

Posted: February 18th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Luton fans could be set for a well-earned trip to Wembley

Luton/Brighton, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Chelsea fans who complain about how hard done by they are because they are fourth in the Premier League should spare a thought for Luton’s loyal supporters. Three-and-a-half years ago they were top of the Championship but this season, despite effectively being relegated before a ball was kicked courtesy of a ridiculous thirty-point deduction, they have averaged the second highest crowd in League Two.

It’s fitting therefore that those who have sat through a season of suffering, being forced to wait until January for the privilege of reaching the zero point mark, all the while knowing that they’d be nine points clear of the drop if it wasn’t for the handicaps inflicted on Rotherham, Bournemouth and themselves, will get a day out at Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final if they beat Brighton at their Kenilworth Road home tonight.

Posted: February 17th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Six reasons why Southend could stun Chelsea tonight

Southend/Chelsea, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than boring you with obvious reasons why Chelsea stand a decent chance of beating League One opposition, chickendinner sometimes likes to go against the grain and argue what others may consider a lost cause. Southend are available at 15/1 on Betfair to win at home to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s out-of-form side and here are six reasons why they stand a decent chance:

1. Southend masterminded a win over a Manchester United team including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in the Carling Cup two seasons ago and were robbed by an offside Jermain Defoe extra-time goal against Spurs in the next round.

2. Chelsea have won just one of their last six games and were knocked out the League Cup by Burnley in November.

3. The Blues aren’t used to playing away in the FA Cup and have won just two of their six games on the road in the competition, losing three.

Posted: January 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Will Grayson drop down a division to manage Leeds?

Blackpool boss is 1/20 with Sky Bet to succeed McAllister

When chickendinner were informed that Gary McAllister had been sacked as Leeds manager yesterday, the name Gus Poyet immediately sprung to mind as to who was most likely to succeed him. However, while the former Elland Road number two was the initial frontrunner, he has been overtaken in the betting by Blackpool boss Simon Grayson, who is now 1/20 with Sky Bet.

If Grayson took the job it would mean stepping down a league after taking Blackpool into the Championship two seasons ago, where they now lie 16th. chickendinner could think of plenty of players who have stepped down a league or two in an attempt to prolong their carrers - Chris Coleman, Lee Carsley and Kevin Phillips for example - but it’s not so common for managers to make such a move.

Posted: December 22nd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Leeds still face a tough test at out-of-form Northampton

Northampton/Leeds, 7.45pm, Setanta Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Northampton may be ten places below Leeds in League One and enduring a run of five games without a win but they have every chance of triumphing in tonight’s FA Cup replay and earning a second round trip to Histon.

The Cobblers were unbeaten at home in the league this season before Saturday’s loss to Oldham but haven’t lost successive home games in over a year. Stuart Gray’s side have already enjoyed a great Carling Cup run this season, winning away at Millwall and Bolton and leading Sunderland 2-0 with five minutes to go before crashing out on penalties.

The last two clashes between the two sides finished 1-1 and Leeds have lost their two games since the initial draw at Elland Road. It’s also notable that Leeds went out in a first round replay last year while Northampton won a home replay at the same stage last year.

Posted: November 17th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment