Preview: Leeds United vs. Harrogate Town - prediction, team news, lineups

In a first-ever gathering betwixt these 2 Yorkshire outfits, Leeds United invited Harrogate Town to Elland Road successful 1 of the ties of the FA Cup 3rd circular connected Saturday.

Leeds are accustomed to facing section rivals successful the signifier of Bradford City and Huddersfield Town, but this volition beryllium a caller acquisition for everybody astatine Elland Road this weekend.

Match preview

© Imago

For 1972 winners Leeds, this should beryllium a regular day fixed the borderline betwixt the sides successful the pyramid, with the location broadside top of the Championship, and Harrogate scrapping adjacent the bottommost of League Two.

Daniel Farke's broadside are unbeaten successful 8 matches - winning 5 - moving to the Championship acme successful caller weeks, and staying determination contempt dropping 2 points precocious connected astatine Hull City past weekend.

Promotion matters volition beryllium shelved for the clip being though, with attraction turning to cupful matters, and Leeds seeking to beforehand past the 3rd circular for the 3rd play running.

After going retired astatine this signifier 5 years moving betwixt 2018 and 2022, Leeds person present reached the 5th circular successful back-to-back seasons, and they person been handed a favourable gully successful the anticipation of an adjacent amended tally this clip around.

Harrogate's emergence up the divisions successful caller years has seen them go regulars successful the FA Cup proper, and they volition not marque the abbreviated travel without hope, fixed that Leeds person lone won 1 of the past 5 ties they person played against fourth-tier opponents successful this competition.

However, the Whites are unbeaten astatine location successful the FA Cup since a decision to Arsenal successful the 2010-11 season, winning 3 and drafting 2 of the games here.

The hosts person besides progressed from 4 of their past 5 FA Cup ties against chap Yorkshire sides, with the astir caller coming against Rotherham United successful 2016.

For Harrogate, this volition beryllium conscionable the 2nd third-round necktie successful their history, with the lone different ending successful a 4-0 thrashing astatine the hands of Luton Town successful 2022.

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Keeping things tighter astatine the backmost could beryllium imaginable for the Sulphurites here, considering they are yet to concede successful the FA Cup truthful acold this season.

A hugely awesome 1-0 triumph implicit Wrexham got them done circular one, earlier they made small fuss successful beating Gainsborough Trinity to get this far.

The visitors person suffered immoderate bruising defeats successful the contention successful caller years though, with that Luton effect coming a twelvemonth aft Blackpool besides bushed them 4-0, portion Bolton Wanderers thumped them 5-1 past season.

Simon Weaver's men volition participate the necktie with assurance though aft returning to winning ways past weekend, securing a 2-0 occurrence implicit Barrow to determination 5 points wide of the relegation portion successful League Two, and supra Swindon Town successful 21st.

Given that determination is lone a three-point spread to 15th, Harrogate cognize a fewer bully results volition assistance them a agelong mode wide of trouble, meaning that those worries tin beryllium shelved for the clip being, allowing them to bask this perchance large cupful tie.

Leeds United signifier (all competitions):

Harrogate Town FA Cup form:

Harrogate Town signifier (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

The prime of the absorption and the value of winning promotion this play means Leeds are acceptable to marque galore changes for this clash.

Joe Gelhardt could beryllium fixed minutes if helium is acceptable capable to return, but Ilia Gruev and Junior Firpo volition miss retired owed to injury.

Leeds person a steadfast squad and Farke is acceptable to usage it here, with the likes of Mateo Joseph, Josuha Guilavogui and Largie Ramazani successful contention to start, portion Karl Darlow whitethorn besides regenerate Illan Meslier successful goal.

Harrogate are without apical scorer Ellis Taylor owed to injury, on with chap midfielders George Thomson and Josh Falkingham.

We say: Leeds United 4-1 Harrogate Town

The extent of Leeds' squad suggests that, adjacent with dense rotation, they volition tract an XI with internationals and plentifulness of players with top-flight experience, and that should beryllium excessively overmuch for Harrogate.

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