Leeds United pair Lewie Coyle and Mallik Wilks faced off against each other for their respective loan sides on Saturday.
With Doncaster flying high in the League One table and Fleetwood going into the weekend having not won any of their previous six games, it appeared more than likely that Mallik Wilks would be the one getting one over on his Leeds teammate Lewie Coyle at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The Whites pair are on loan at the two third tier sides and lined up against one another on Saturday, perhaps looking to put in the kind of performance that caught their parent club’s eye after Leeds’ draw with Brentford in the early kick-off.
Wilks’ Donny may have been the big favourites for the game, but there is no question that Coyle’s Cod Army took the bragging rights away with them in emphatic fashion.
Joey Barton’s men won 4-0 with three of the goals coming before the break before the exclamation point came shortly after the interval. It was an odd game as Doncaster actually had more attempts, while Fleetwood only managed to put five on target.
Wilks was one of those who had a chance for the home side, but Coyle was able to help the visitors keep a clean sheet – their first since August.
And it may perhaps be fair to suggest that it is Coyle who stands a better chance of securing first-team football upon his return to Leeds. The right-back claimed numerous awards at the end of his first loan spell at Fleetwood, and has made over 20 appearances in the Whites side, including 15 in the Championship.
Wilks had looked set to make a real impression ahead of his return in January. He scored three goals in his first three games, but has since only scored once more for Doncaster, so he may perhaps need a strong couple of months before he heads back to Elland Road.
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