“Leeds have as many points after 21 games as Burnley did last season, but Coventry are ticking at the moment”- Sky Sports host David Prutton drops prediction for Leeds Vs Coventry as he says Ipswich will drop points today
United will gain ground on Ipswich Town today
Leeds United welcome Coventry City to Elland Road this afternoon, hoping that Ipswich Town drop points in the East Anglian derby earlier in the day.
Leeds’ midweek trip to Sunderland was a damaging one for confidence as they were beat 1-0 by Jobe Bellingham’s second half goal.
The problem for Leeds is that minor blips, that are natural for any side chasing promotion, aren’t creeping into Leicester and Ipswich’s runs of form.
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton believes that Leeds will bounce back from their midweek setback, as they gear up to take on last year’s losing play-off finalists Coventry City at Elland Road.
“Leeds have as many points after 21 games as Burnley did last season. The difference is the Clarets did not have to contend with the runaway pace of Leicester and Ipswich, which has made setbacks like the one at Sunderland in midweek seem disastrous.
“Coventry are ticking along and improving at the moment. They were held by Southampton in midweek, and it will be interesting to see how much chasing around against the Saints will have taken out of them as they head to Elland Road. But I’m tipping Leeds to bounce back and win.”
Writing his predictions for the game, he thinks Leeds will edge a three-goal encounter with a 2-1 win:
Prutton backs Norwich to cause mini-Ipswich upset
Before Leeds kick-off, they will know whether they have the chance to close the gap to the Tractor Boys in second, who have a 10-point cushion as things stand.
Not many teams have been able to thwart Kieran McKenna’s side this season, but their first East Anglian derby in a while could shake things up.
Prutton believes that could be on the cards, as he predicts a 2-2 draw at Portman Road:
“Now Ipswich are flying high, and Norwich are labouring a little in mid-table – albeit with an upturn in form recently. It has been nearly 15 years since the Canaries lost to their rivals, and David Wagner knows the fans will not forget defeat at Portman Road quickly.
“I think there will be goals, and Norwich might well nick a draw.”
A lot looked at the winter period as the time where the cream would start rising to the top in the promotion race, whether that be Leeds making up ground, or the top two holding their own through a tricky patch.
For Ipswich, they are currently passing every test being thrown their way, and this derby is another that could be challenging for them.
If Leeds want to get back into the top two mix, they need the next few weeks to go their way, with Norwich, themselves, and Leicester Ipswich’s next three opponents.
