Leeds United will aim to extend their unbeaten run to 14 matches across all competitions on Wednesday night while striving for a sixth consecutive clean sheet as they travel to Coventry City.
This match carries added significance. Last season, Leeds suffered a narrow defeat to Mark Robins’ Coventry side, who went on to reach the FA Cup semi-finals before falling to Manchester United. Since then, Robins has been replaced by Frank Lampard, but Leeds triumphed 3-0 over Coventry at Elland Road earlier this season. Lampard, however, has since guided Coventry to five straight wins in all competitions.
The ongoing rivalry between Leeds fans and Lampard remains intense, particularly due to the Spygate scandal, and it’s expected that the atmosphere will be charged with some songs aimed at the former Chelsea manager.
Selection dilemmas for Daniel Farke ahead of the Coventry clash
A key decision for Farke is whether to bring Pascal Struijk back into the starting XI. Struijk made a brief appearance in Leeds’ 7-0 demolition of Cardiff City, but that match now feels like a distant memory due to the drama surrounding the January transfer deadline. In Tuesday’s press conference, Farke was tight-lipped about Struijk’s inclusion, stating that it’s about choosing the right moment to reintegrate him, which could very well be against Coventry.
In the Cardiff win, Mateo Joseph and Wilfried Gnonto impressed after coming off the bench, Junior Firpo shone in his first match back, and Ilia Gruev was involved in the Burnley away fixture.
Predicted XI for Leeds United vs Frank Lampard’s Coventry
Farke has some key choices to make, but with Joel Piroe scoring twice, and both Manor Solomon and Dan James in excellent form, all three will likely retain their spots in the starting lineup against Coventry.
Brenden Aaronson will almost certainly start, along with Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, and likely Firpo on the left, after his three assists. The main question is whether Struijk will return to the lineup.
If Struijk does start, Ethan Ampadu could move into midfield, with £30k-a-week Joe Rothwell potentially the one to make way, allowing Farke to pair Ampadu and Ao Tanaka in the center of the park.
Predicted XI with one change vs Coventry:
Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo; Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu; Dan James, Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon; Joel Piroe.
