Football League preview – Speed returns to Leeds
All friendship ties will be ignored for 90 minutes on Saturday at Elland Road as boy-hood pals Simon Grayson and Gary Speed lock horns in the dug-out for the first time in what looks a cracking local derby between Leeds and Sheffield United.
The two managers grew up together at the Leeds academy over 20 years ago, where Grayson now is the manager, and both went onto represent the Lilywhites’ and build hugely successful careers.
Now Speed, who has only been a manager for four games since taking over from Kevin Blackwell, brings his side across Yorkshire to renew acquaintances with his former club, and Grayson is relishing the battle on the touchline.
"Me and Gary have known each other a long time,” Grayson told the Yorkshire Post. "We signed schoolboy forms at 14 and then became apprentices. We spent a lot of time together in the dressing room, cleaning the first team's boots.
“We also did our Pro-Licence together so we know all about each other. But there will be a big rivalry this weekend and, hopefully, he will go home disappointed without any points."
Leeds will give a debut to George McCartney for tomorrow’s game, after joining on-loan from Sunderland, whilst the Blades’ new signing Richard Wright may also be handed his first start between the sticks.
League leaders QPR face a tricky looking home game against Doncaster, and their manager Neil Warnock, despite playing down their title chances so far this season, has revealed he is starting to believe his side could well be the real deal.
Warnock told the club’s official website: "There are going to be defeats along the way, but the way this side has gelled together, I’m beginning to think something good is in the air."
Martin Rowlands will once again take up a place on the bench following his return from a cruciate ligament injury, and Akos Buzsaky will continue to play in midfield as Alejandro Faurlin is still nursing a groin injury. James Chambers and Wayne Thomas remain long term absentees for Rovers with knee injuries. But Sean O’Driscoll is set to welcome back James Hayter, Byron Webster and Steve Brooker.
Cardiff will be looking to bounce back from two-straight defeats against Millwall, who also suffered a confidence draining 6-1 loss at home to Watford last week.
Second place Ipswich will be looking to keep the pressure on runaway leaders QPR, by getting a positive result at Scunthorpe, whislt a rejuvenated Middlesbrough travel to north-London to take on in-form Watford.
Tags: