Leeds V Derby at Elland Road : Match Preview

31 March 2013 12:31
Leeds V Derby - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Suspended Lees out for Leeds

Leeds will be without suspended defender Tom Lees against Derby at Elland Road.

England Under-21 international Lees was shown a straight red card for his high tackle on midfielder Jay Tabb in Saturday's defeat at Ipswich and will start a three-game ban.

Jason Pearce is expected to step in alongside Lee Peltier at the heart of defence in Lees' absence.

Manager Neil Warnock recalled veteran midfielder Michael Brown at Ipswich in place of Rudy Austin, who had only returned from international duty with Jamaica two days earlier.

Warnock may be tempted to recall Austin to his starting line-up along with striker Ross McCormack, who returned to the substitutes' bench at Ipswich following a head injury.

Teenage midfielder Chris Dawson, an unused substitute in recent weeks, is pushing for his first senior appearance for the club as Leeds look to bounce back from successive defeats which appear to have ended their play-off hopes.

Leading scorer Jamie Ward is expected to be fit for Derby's trip.

Ward, who netted his 12th goal of the season in the Rams' 3-0 home win over Bristol City on Friday night, has been struggling with a hamstring problem and came off midway through the second half against the Robins.

However, it was merely a precautionary measure and the Northern Ireland international should play at Elland Road on Monday.

"Jamie's problems in that area are well documented and it's really just about managing him," said Derby coach Andy Garner.

"It is good that he does come off as it gives him an extra 20 minutes' rest. He should be okay for Monday."

Gareth Roberts, 35, will be checked again. The player missed the 2-1 home win over Leicester prior to the international break due to a calf injury and he was absent again on Friday night.

Midfielder Craig Forsyth will probably continue to deputise at left-back should Roberts remain unavailable.

Rams boss Nigel Clough is keen to extend Forsyth's loan spell from Watford, which ends after the trip to Elland Road.


Source: PA