Key events
20 min: Hume, unperturbed by his earlier injury, flies into a full-bloodied challenge with Solomon, leaving the Leeds man splatted over the Elland Road turf. Replays show it to be a brilliant tackle, although a sore one for Solomon.
18 min: For full disclosure, my three-year old son has just discovered Ice Age, so most of my references are going to be of that ilk. Apologies.
16 min: Sunderland need a way out of their own half and Isidor somehow provides it with a mazy dribble, evading and then running into trouble, before somehow evading it again. It reminded me of this scene, if Isidor was the squirrel with the acorn/ball.
14 min: Leeds have had 75% possession in the last 10 minutes but yet to carve out a major chance. Soloman has a deflected shot. Another Leeds corner is cleared. The pressure is building.
12 min: Leeds are putting the squeeze on. High-octane stuff, with and without the ball.
10 min: Hume is hobbling after colliding with teammate O’Nien. The Sunderland’s right back is going to have to go off for treatment.
8 min: An email from Jeremy Boyce: “This is a great match up, both teams looking to restore former glories, both in the four-into-two-doesn’t-go automatic promotion spots reckoning, both capable of scoring and conceding. A night that could open clear water, or muddy if further. Farke’s lot will want a Revie-esque non-defeat, and their record isn’t too great against their peers. On the other hand, they’re pretty ruthless on any signs of weakness. Could be a telling evening”.
6 min: Leeds pressing high, with Bogle springing forward to win the ball back near Sunderland’s box. Leeds earn a corner but it’s a dreadful delivery and Roberts clears easily at the near post.
4 min: What a rip-snorting start to this match. Both teams look in the mood to win it.
2 min: Huge chance for Sunderland and humungous double save from Meslier! Ballard comes out of defence with all the poise and swagger of a young Jonathan Woodgate, releases Le Fée on the left wing. The Frenchman squares the ball to Bellingham on the edge of the area – completely free after a Gruev slip – but the Sunderland midfielder doesn’t beat Meslier with his shot and the Leeds keeper gets quickly to his feet to block the rebound!
Peeeeeeeeeep!
We’re off in Yorkshire. I have just learned Leeds’ Meslier and Sunderland’s Le Fée were friends at school in Lorient, France.
The teams are out. You might remember the reverse fixture of this in October, where a Illan Meslier’s injury-time clanger gifted Sunderland a draw.
I would expect Leeds to have the majority of the possession tonight. They average over 60% possession in the Championship this season and Sunderland average less than half. As Le Bris touched on, Sunderland will most likely stay compact and hit Leeds on the break. No teams have scored more goals from counter-attacks than these two teams this season.
Régis Le Bris, Sunderland’s manager, speaks to the cameras:
Leeds are a strong opponent. We are still a young team. At the end of the game, we will have learned a lot. I don’t want to overthink about the table and the consequences. I just want to concentrate on Leeds and the three points. We trust our defensive shape and to use our fast attacks.
In other Championship news today:
This is the first Leeds game since Friday’s statement condemning the anti-Palestine chant aimed at Israel international Manor Solomon. A reminder of that statement:
Leeds United again condemn the football chant containing an anti-Palestine lyric aimed at Manor Solomon, having already done so in December.
Hate crime and discriminatory language or chanting is not acceptable at Leeds United and the club has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination abuse of all kinds.
The club has received a large number of complaints from Leeds United supporters regarding the chant and had hoped the initial strategy of condemning it through the media and working with supporter groups, would prevent this from happening in the future, but it has sadly become more prominent in recent matches, including at Elland Road.
After monitoring the situation at recent home games, the origins of the chant at Elland Road appear to come from the Norman Hunter South Stand, particularly in blocks FA5, FA6, SS5, SS6. As a result, there will be an increased CCTV surveillance and stewarding presence.
This is a nice piece by Louise Taylor on Enzo Le Fée, who was a protege of the Sunderland manager, Regis Le Bris, at Lorient.
Team news!
Leeds: Meslier, Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, Tanaka, Gruev, James, Aaronson, Solomon, Piroe.
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Schmidt, Struijk, Rothwell, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gnonto, Fernandez.
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin, Neil, Bellingham, Roberts, Rigg, Le Fee, Isidor.
Subs: Moore, Browne, Mayenda, Mundle, Abdul Samed, Mepham, Aleksic, Hjelde, Poveda-Ocampo.
Preamble
Elland Road under the lights. Second v fourth. Tonight’s Championship offering between two-promotion chasing sides, Leeds United and Sunderland is an absolute belter.
Leeds are on an absolute tear at the minute, winning five of their last six in the Championship (the other result a 0-0 draw away at Burnley). In those six matches they have scored 18 goals, averaging three a game, and conceded none. This is an important period for every club but with this feels particularly important for Leeds as they look to pull clear of the chasing pack for automatic promotion, with Burnley drawing 0-0 at Preston on Saturday. This is the first of three tough matches for the Yorkshire club, with Sheffield United (away) a week from today, followed by West Brom at home.
Sunderland are unbeaten in the league in 2025, but their form has recently flickered between wins and draws and second-placed Leeds are now in a commanding position. This feels like a crucial chance to reel in the top two.
The Black Cats have the youngest squad in the Championship littered with talent, particularly Jobe Bellingham, top scorer Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fée. The latter two both scored in Sunderland’s last outing, a 2-0 win over Luton. Patrick Roberts, a relative veteran at 28, has also been outstanding.
This one should be a cracker. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT.
