Newcastle United take on Leeds United in the Championship this afternoon.
David Prutton at Leeds United
Pundit David Prutton has told Sky Sports that he thinks Newcastle United must start Dwight Gayle against Leeds United this afternoon, ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic, whilst fellow pundit Peter Beagrie told the Sky Bet Facebook page that he thinsk the game will finish 2-2.
Leeds host Newcastle in the game of the weekend in the Championship this afternoon, as two of the division’s form sides lock horns at Elland Road.
Leeds head into the game having won seven of their last ten Championship games and the last three in a row, with Garry Monk’s men now just one point off a play-off place after Saturday’s results.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are coasting at the top of the table, having picked up seven Championship wins in a row, and a victory today would leave them five points clear at the top of the table.
Whilst Newcastle are swatting aside all of the competition, manager Rafael Benitez does have a huge decision to make today, as he must choose between Aleksandar Mitrovic or Dwight Gayle to lead his attack, assuming he sticks with the 4-2-3-1 system he has played all season.
Gayle had been the man of the moment with seven goals in five games, but now hasn’t played for almost a month, which has given Mitrovic his chance to shine.
Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring for Newcastle United
Mitrovic has responded by picking up four goals and one assist in his last three games for the Magpies, whilst his great form continued with a goal for Serbia against Wales over the international break.
Ahead of the game, pundit David Prutton has told Sky Sports that he thinks Benitez has to pick Gayle to lead the line, as his pace and movement will cause problems for Leeds’ superb centre back pairing of Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley.
“I think the sort of liveliness that Gayle has up against the two big centre-halves, Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley, will cause all sorts of problems,” said Prutton. “That’s unless we get a reducer from one of the central defenders early on!”
Rajiv van La Parra of Huddersfield Town in action with Pontus Jansson of Leeds United
Fellow pundit Peter Beagrie then offered his score prediction for the game, tipping a 2-2 draw on Sky Bet’s Facebook page – and if he was pressed for a team to win the game, he’d back Newcastle for all three points.
“I think 2-2,” said Beagrie. “The advantage is with Newcastle, because of the strength of the squad and the way they can change it. If I was going for a high-scoring winner, then it would be Newcastle,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Leeds v Newcastle?
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