Leeds to win and over 3.5 goals – 7/2
Leeds have had a peculiar Christmas to say the least.
Having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against both Aston Villa and Blackburn, they then lost their first game in nearly two months at home to a rejuvenated Hull side before following it up with a second successive defeat away to Nottingham Forest three days later.
Luckily for them, Norwich and West Brom both did their utmost to keep Leeds top over Christmas with each dropping points like it was going out of fashion.
With Leeds coming up against fellow promotion hopefuls Derby on Friday night, they have the chance to put an end to their mini-slump before it becomes more of a problem.
Derby have also stuttered through the Christmas schedule and only find themselves in the top six because of the poor form of those below them. The Rams have won just one of their last five games and yet still find themselves four points clear of seventh-placed Nottingham Forest.
Derby have conceded eight goals in that run, conceding three on their travels twice, while Leeds have conceded 10 goals in their last four league games.
Both sides play an expansive and attractive style of football and with so much attacking talent on display, it’s hard to see how these two shaky defences will cope.
This might be an absolute goal fest, if we’re lucky, and Leeds should just edge it.
Kemar Roofe last goalscorer – 16/5
Of Roofe’s 13 Championship goals this season, six have been the last goal in a game.
No player has won their team more points than Roofe in the second tier and he’s quickly becoming indispensable. He also scored three injury time goals over the festive period, winning Leeds five points.
Without him, they would have picked up just one point out of 12 over Christmas and their position at the top of the Championship table might be under a lot more of a threat than it currently is.
Roofe is the man for the big occasion and seems to always step up when his side needs him.
If this game is in the balance in the closing stages, as it very well might be, he is the obvious candidate to be the matchwinner. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s bailed Leeds out!
Harry Wilson to score anytime – 10/3
Wilson has been in eye-catching form this season, scoring 10 goals since his loan move from Liverpool in the summer.
The Welshman, who is a slight doubt for the clash, has eight goals in his last 13 league appearances for Derby and he has scooped the club’s goal of the month award for four consecutive months.
Eight of Wilson’s goals have come from outside the area and he seems to have a Ruben Neves-like penchant for scoring long range screamers.
He also scored a free kick for Wales when they beat the Republic of Ireland in October, bringing his tally of direct free-kicks this season to four. The on-loan Liverpool mam has netted five times on the road this season and has a tendency to score in big games.
It’s not unthinkable that he’ll do it again on Friday night.
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