Leeds opponents Bristol City are Championship’s most ruthless side

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Technically, Leeds United face the Championship’s most ruthless side tonight.

Leeds United aim to maintain their red-hot form when Garry Monk’s side visit Bristol City tonight.

The Whites bring a four-match winning streak with them to Bristol, but a huge defensive effort might be needed in order to avoid a fifth Championship defeat of the campaign.

This is because, statistically, Leeds are facing the most clinical side in the division.

So far, Lee Johnson’s men, who sit 10th in the Championship, one point and two places above United, have managed to convert 12 of the big chances which have come their way in nine league games – more than any other team.

In fact, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, with 13 big chances scored, are the only side in the Premier League and the Championship to be more ruthless than Bristol in front of goal.

Such a statistic suggests that the margin for a defensive error is far slimmer against Bristol than it would be against, say, Brighton, who have missed 17 big chances this season.

On the plus side, Monk’s back four of Luke Ayling, Kyle Bartley, Pontus Jansson and Charlie Taylor are in splendid form, shipping two goals in their last four league games – and both were relatively special long-range efforts, it must be said.

None of them are likely to make a mistake on current form, but at Ashton Gate, it seems probable that Leeds will pay the penalty if they afford City a sniff at goal.

And Monk must place extra emphasis on concentration this evening during his pre-game pep talk.

Rajiv van La Parra of Huddersfield Town in action with Pontus Jansson of Leeds United