Competition: Championship
market: Leeds win
Odds: 1/2 @ 1xBet
Leeds will travel to a struggling Stoke on Boxing Day night, hoping to find a way to the top of the Championship table.
Starting with the hosts, Stoke may finally hang on to their Championship season, while the Potters have another real challenge on their hands. Despite appointing new boss Narcisse Pelach in September, the former Huddersfield coach already has plenty of pressure on his shoulders. Stoke are at the center of another Championship relegation scrap after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday. Signing off with a 2-0 defeat against Burnley in November, Thursday’s hosts have collected just one point from their previous five games. In fact, Pelach’s men have failed to record a win in their last eight consecutive outings. Having conceded at least a pair of goals in each of their previous five showdowns, Stoke certainly have another big challenge on their hands in midweek.
For the visitors, although Leeds may have endured play-off heartbreak last season, Daniel Farke’s side are included as a top promotion contender this time around. The former Norwich boss saw his squad enjoy a real purple patch, putting in a blistering performance en route to a routine 4-0 win over Oxford United last weekend. The Yorkshire-based side collected 10 points from their previous four Championship appearances, claiming a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough earlier this month. Starting with a 2-0 win over Derby in December, Farke’s side have lost just one of their last eight consecutive outings – a run that stretches back to November 6. It should also be noted that Leeds won 1-0 when they last met Stoke in March. Given the polar opposite moods in their respective camps, we’re backing an away win on Boxing Day.
Bet: Leeds 1/2 to beat Stoke in Thursday’s Championship match @ 1xBet
