Having beaten Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium already this season, Leeds United will be full of confidence going into Friday night’s Yorkshire derby in the Championship (Doncaster 2/1, draw 9/4, Leeds 11/8).
It was two goals from Honduran international Ramon Nunez which gave the Whites the 2-1 win in the Carling Cup over Rovers back in August and boss Simon Grayson will be looking for a similar result in the league.
Leeds regularly find themselves behind in matches and it was James Hayter (7/1 first goalscorer) who gave Doncaster the lead after just two minutes in the League Cup clash.
But as regularly as they find themselves behind, the Whites usually get themselves back into games and it was two fine strikes from Nunez that put Leeds through to the next round of the competition, where they were humbled by old rivals Manchester United at Elland Road.
After a slow start to the season, Grayson’s side have started to climb their way up the Championship table and are unbeaten in their last four outings.
What was a rarity in their last game was the fact Leeds were able to keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Elland Road.
A centre-back partnership of Darren O’Dea and Tom Lees, who has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the club, looked like a strong combination and could leave Australia international Patrick Kisnorbo on the bench for the short trip to Doncaster.
Leeds also have in their ranks the league’s joint highest goalscorer in Ross McCormack (11/2 first goalscorer) and he will once again be a threat, especially if he gets partnered by Argentine striker Luciano Becchio, who is closing in on a place in the starting line-up after a long spell on the injury list.
As for Doncaster, they have been buoyed since the arrival of Dean Saunders as manager – going unbeaten in their last three outings – with two wins against Crystal Palace and Peterborough.
Rovers have some new-found confidence under the former Wales international and would love to end their 60-year spell without a win against Leeds in the league.
Doncaster will be boosted by the arrival of England one-cap-wonder Chris Kirkland, who could make his debut in goal following a loan move from Wigan Athletic this week.
Leeds (6/1 Championship promotion) are the highest of the four clubs left in the Championship without an away win and should have ended that run, after they found themselves 2-0 up against Brighton in their last game on the road, only to draw the contest 3-3.
The fact the Whites have been less than convincing away from home will give hope to Doncaster, who will look to cause the new-look Leeds defence problems.
However, Leeds looked much stronger at the back against Pompey and, with the attacking threats of Robert Snodgrass, Becchio and McCormack in their ranks, they should make the trip back across Yorkshire with all three points.
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