Former Leeds United defender Ben Parker has predicted that Daniel Farke’s side will pick themselves up and dust themselves off this weekend as the Peacocks host Huddersfield Town.
An 80th-minute Pascal Struijk own goal meant that Leeds returned to West Yorkshire last night with nothing. Subsequently, Ipswich Town’s 1-0 victory away at Bristol City widened the gap between the two clubs to nine points, while the latter still have a game in hand.
Leeds had a ropey start to life back in the Championship but managed to pick up form in recent weeks, clawing their way to third in the table but the loss to an inconsistent Stoke City yesterday was certainly a setback for Farke’s men.
However, ex-Leeds fullback Ben Parker believes his former club will get back to winning ways this weekend in the West Yorkshire Derby against Huddersfield Town, predicting an emphatic 4-0 win and the return of stalwart Luke Ayling to the starting lineup.
Speaking to LS11 earlier today, Parker said [quotes via Leeds United News]:
“For us, I expect a couple of changes. Ayling to come in at right-back to push Gray into midfield. I expect us to be bang at it, let’s hammer them. 4-0.”
The last time these two sides met was in March 2020, right before lockdown. Marcelo Bielsa’s team earned a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford and Ayling.
The Terriers’ last win at Elland Road came during the side’s promotion run in the 2016/17 campaign. Aaron Mooy’s second-half strike earned all three points for David Wagner’s men on the day. Ayling played a full ninety minutes during that outing.
Huddersfield Town completed the double over the Whites that season en route to the Premier League.
Writer’s View
Huddersfield are coming into this game off the back of a humiliating 4-0 home defeat against Cardiff City. Darren Moore’s side were 3-0 down before half-time.
While Leeds also lost in midweek, the difference in quality may be too much for the Terriers in the derby in front of a roaring Elland Road so Parker’s prediction may be close to reality.
