Thursday, April 30, 2009

Leeds final test before playoffs

As Leeds welcomes Northampton Town to Elland Road Saturday afternoon, all eyes are keenly turned towards the playoffs that commence next week. Whether the Whites face the MK Dons or Millwall in the semi-finals Simon Grayson will use this as a dress rehearsal before the main event that commences on 8 May.

However despite the rallying cries and other media banter of finishing off the campaign with a victory, Leeds needs to hold back the reigns on Robert Snodgrass to ensure he is fully fit and anticipate a curmudgeonly approach by the visitors. Any thoughts of Northhampton being a casual observer in the final match day of the season needs to be cast aside as the Cobblers are in a relegation scrap and could be sent down should Brighton and Carlisle United come up victories. Northhampton manager Stuart Gray might be inclined to use a more defensive approach tactically with the notion of gutting out a an all-important point and Simon Grayson is best to given this consideration in his starting eleven.

All that aside for League One followers the title bout of the day is most assuredly Tranmere's visit of Scunthorpe United. With the Rovers only two points behind Scunthorpe in the final playoff spot this will be a massive test of wills.