Marching on Together - Northampton Town match preview

As Leeds takes to Sixfields today against Northhampton Town, they must put the dropped points behind them and reaffirm their promotion bid. Sitting at sixth place, three points behind Leicester City, the quality of the Leeds squad should have them riding high well in-front of the table but unfortunately all "should have's" in-the-world won't buy you a place in the Championship. Seventeen matches into the campaign the grading of Leeds' play is far from acceptable and while that does appear a morsel on the "tough love" side, it is a straight fact. This is a massive club, far beyond the majority of its competition and is losing out because of a lack of attacking spirit if not a killer instinct. If I say this before each match throughout the balance of the campaign then so be it but if Leeds does not win promotion this year they will be unable to retain or for that matter resist the sale of their younger players and the club will take root in League One. It is time for Gary McAllister to get a bit more forceful and demand a tenacious up-tempo attack or find the right player combination to do so.

Leeds will need to wipe memories of their recent 5-2 FA Cup victory over Northhampton and be aware that they are a radically different unit at home in league play. Stuart Gray will utilize a 3-5-2 and have his cobblers poised to counter on Leeds mental errors that have dotted their season. A old-name many will be familiar with, Andy Todd has resurfaced with the Cobblers and if he plays Leeds will need to deal with a very tough defender who won't make things so easy for Jermaine Beckford and Jermaine Beckford. Giles Coke is back for Northhampton but they will be without Adebayo Akinfenwa, Chris Doig, Colin Larkin and Abdul Osman. Leeds will be missing Malcolm Christie but is otherwise full-fit.

I will report on the match as it concludes but until then we're Marching on Together.