Leeds United are the most in-form team in the Championship right now and it is no surprise that bookmakers are putting them as favourites to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
The Whites have kept 15 clean sheets this season and are top the table following a nine-match unbeaten run. They are backed to stretch that run to 10 when Norwich City travel to Elland Road on Wednesday.
The Canaries, Daniel Farke’s former club, are awash with injury setbacks and have seen a handful of their players leave this January transfer window. They will also be without star striker Borja Sainz.
The attacker, who has 16 goals this season and 12 more than any other teammate, is currently serving a six-match suspension for admitting to spitting at Sunderland defender Chris Mepham in December.
Farke believes his absence will not change the way Norwich set up that much and identified Josh Sargent - who has four goals and five assists - as one of the away side’s biggest threats. United’s own attacking threats come from all directions.
Joel Piroe might be the only player to hit double figures this season but the goals are being shared around nicely. Largie Ramazani, Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James all have five goals or more while Wilfried Gnonto and Manor Solomon have four apiece across all competitions.
Solomon and Aaronson are doubts for Wednesday’s clash with Norwich but United’s attack is so strong that they will be confident of being able to unlock a defence that has conceded in seven of their last eight matches.
In fact, Farke boasts an astonishing record that hands United a perfect blueprint on how to defeat Johannes Hoff Thorup’s men. The Whites manager has not lost a single Championship game when Leeds have scored first - a streak that has stretched to 39 matches.
Only four have ended in draws with the other 35 seeing Leeds come out as the victors. As a result, only eight points have been dropped after netting the opening goal.
As many as 89 goals have been scored in those 39 fixtures where United have struck first blood, with only 12 goals conceded and a healthy 29 clean sheets recorded.
It might well be that one goal is enough to beat Norwich on Wednesday amid their weakened firepower and list of unavailable players. Fans and the manager will want more than 1-0 scoreline but Farke’s track record indicates that supporters can expect a result if their side nets first.
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