Leeds vs Sunderland predictions: Farke's men ready to grind out crucial victory
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- Leeds have the best home record in the Championship (W13, D2, L1)
- Sunderland have not won at Elland Road since 2006
- Recommended bet: Leeds to win to nil
Leeds and Sunderland are among the quartet of clubs pushing for automatic promotion from the Premier League and meet at Elland Road on Monday.
A game in hand for both, the Whites slipped to second on Saturday after Sheffield United's 1-0 win at Luton, meaning the Black Cats, who sit fourth, are eight points off the top and Burnley are third, five points behind the Blades following their 0-0 draw at Preston North End.
A victory for either side on Monday could be pivotal to their promotion push but Leeds' home form makes them tough to oppose as they aim to maintain their momentum ahead of next Monday's trip to Bramall Lane.
Team news
Leeds will again be without Patrick Bamford and Max Wober due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.
Niall Huggins (groin), Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Tom Watson (knee) are close to returning but Aji Alese (broken leg) and Jayden Danns (back) are out for Regis Le Bris' visitors.
The stats
Leeds have won 12 of their last 13 home games in the second tier, drawing the other and keeping 10 clean sheets in that time.
Sunderland are looking to win three straight away league games for the first time since September 2023.
They are also unbeaten in their last five league trips to Elland Road (W3, D2), although the most recent of those victories was in 2006.
Daniel James has been involved in nine goals in 10 league games, scoring and assisting in his last two outings.
Prediction
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Similar to last season, the top four in the Championship are pulling away from the pack and it looks like the games between the teams could be decisive.
Sunderland head down the A1 unbeaten in their last eight matches in the Championship. However, their four defeats this season have all come away from home.
Leeds' defensive record of just seven conceded at home has gone under the radar due to Burnley's exploits but Daniel Farke's side have kept clean sheets in their last six league matches.
The Black Cats equalised late on to secure a 2-2 draw in October's reverse fixture but the Whites have tightened up since then and are also the top scorers in the division.
This has all the hallmarks of a grinding home victory and a chance for Leeds to push their automatic promotion claims while simultaneously damaging a rival, and leapfrogging another, to go back to the top of the table.
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