Blackburn v Leeds Betting Tips: Punters shouldn’t be put off by FA Cup performance

Having dropped out of the FA Cup, without ever really looking like going through, against non-league Sutton United on Sunday, Leeds will be looking to bounce back as they travel to take on a Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

In terms of both personnel and the performance, it’s fair to say that Sunday’s showing was anything but representative of the way Gary Monk has had his team playing this season and, with the usual first team regulars set to return, fans should see a completely different Leeds.

Leeds United have been one of the success stories of the Championship campaign so far and they can continue to impress now that normal league fixtures are set to resume. With this in mind, ‘Leeds to Win’, at odds of 6/4, really catches the eye.

Since Monk’s arrival, the Yorkshire club have gone from strength to strength. They possess both a solid defence and a potent attack – only six of the league’s 24 teams have scored more goals, while they currently boast the fourth best defensive record. It did take a little while for the new manager to get his ideas across, but, with just two losses (against 1st and 2nd in the league) in their last ten league fixtures, it would now appear that the players are very much on the same page.

You could definitely say that Leeds have done a lot of their best work at Elland Road, but their form away from home is certainly respectable. They might have won just two of their last five on the road, although the bare figures don’t exactly tell the full story. In recent away matches, Leeds have faced some very tough opposition – opposition who’re stronger than Blackburn, that’s for sure. Losing 2-0 (when down to ten-men) away at league leaders Brighton is fair enough, while they were unlucky not to take all three points away at Villa not too long ago (the only team to remain unbeaten at home in the division).

The visitors might have been edged out by Barnsley in a five-goal-thriller in their last away match, but they were without commanding centre-half Pontus Janssen for that fixture – a player who’s proving to be one of the Championship signings of the season. The fact that Leeds regaining their solidity when comfortably beating Nottingham Forest last time out coincided with Janssen’s return was certainly no fluke.

As for the hosts, well, Blackburn aren’t exactly enjoying a fruitful campaign thus far. Rovers find themselves languishing down towards the foot of the table and come into this fixture having won just one of their last five in the league. You wouldn’t say they’re a team short on goals, but against a sturdy Leeds back-line, they could easily struggle. Keeping goals out has been the main problem for the hosts and they’ve now conceded 44 overall, 22 of which have come at home. If they aren’t capable of breaking down a visiting defence that really is proving to be a tough nut to crack, then you have to fear for the hosts here.

Only one team has conceded more goals at home this season than Blackburn so it’s really not hard to envisage players such as Pablo Hernández and the league’s second top-scorer Chris Wood enjoying themselves in the final third for Leeds.

Monk’s team are defensively sound yet offer plenty going forward and should have enough about them to cause a dodgy defence numerous problems. As things stand in this division, Leeds simply look a better outfit than their opponents here and can continue to do well by securing all three points.

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