Leeds United vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
Elland RoadAttendance34,800.
Friday 21 September 2018 11:28, UK
Leeds are likely to be unchanged for their home game against Birmingham.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa has no new injury concerns following the midweek win against Preston, but all his injured players remain sidelined. Kemar Roofe (calf) and fellow striker Patrick Bamford (knee), midfielder Pablo Hernandez (hamstring) and defender Gaetano Berardi (knee) will play no part.
Teenage midfielder Jamie Shackleton (ankle) is also still out, while Tyler Roberts will resume in a central striker's role after his two goals on Tuesday night.
Birmingham's former Leeds boss Garry Monk is hoping to have both Maikel Kieftenbeld and Craig Gardner back in contention. Kieftenbeld missed Wednesday night's goalless draw at Sheffield United, while fellow midfielder Gardner has been sidelined for the last two matches.
Monk must decide whether to retain Charlie Lakin in central midfield - he made his first start for the club in midweek - or recall Kieftenbeld. Forward Isaac Vassell (hip) and midfielder David Davis (ankle) remain long-term absentees as Blues chase their first league win of the season.
Leeds have won two of their last eight home matches against Birmingham City in all competitions (D2 L4).
Birmingham haven't won consecutive league matches against Leeds since winning five in a row between February 2007 and April 2013.
For the 13th consecutive league meeting between Leeds and Birmingham at Elland Road, Leeds will have a different manager in charge - Bremner, Wilkinson, Venables, Reid, Carver, Grayson, Warnock, McDermott, Redfearn, Rosler, Monk, Christiansen and Bielsa.
This will be Garry Monk's second match against Leeds since leaving them at the end of the 2016-17 season - he lost at Elland Road last season with Middlesbrough.
Birmingham have won one of their last 23 away matches on Saturday in all competitions (D10 L12).
Leeds are looking to remain unbeaten in their first nine games of a league campaign for the first time since the 2009-10 League One season. They last did so in the top two divisions back in 2001-02 in the Premier League.
No Kemar Roofe or Patrick Bamford? No problem! 19-year-old Tyler Roberts was given his chance by Marcelo Bielsa up front and he will and truly took it with two goals against Preston on Tuesday night.
Birmingham are still without a win in the Championship this season but they've now drawn their last four in a row and six in total to keep themselves out of the relegation zone. This ought to be a home banker.
Prutton predicts: 2-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
