Leeds United vs Blackburn Rovers Prediction: Championship leaders to be pushed all the way

Leeds United ended 2024 on top of the Championship table, but they will have to be at their best if they want to stay there as they prepare to host Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Year's Day. The Whites hold a two-point lead at the top of the Championship after their 1-0 win over Derby County last time out, but with Sheffield United and Burnley breathing down their neck they cannot afford to switch off.

Rovers may be 13 points behind their hosts, but John Eustace's team are fighting for the play-offs themselves and they are the last team to beat Leeds, so confidence will be high.

Football Odds

Team news

Leeds boss Daniel Farke will be without Ilia Gruev until the middle of February due to a knee injury, leaving Joe Rothwell, Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka to fight for the two starting spots in central midfield.

Dan James, Wilfried Gnonto, Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani are all fit and fighting for a spot on the wings, but defenders Junior Firpo and Max Wober are both sidelined through injury.

Blackburn will be without forwards Arnor Sigurdsson and Zak Gilsenan through injury, but both are hoping to return in the coming weeks.

Injuries also prevent Scott Wharton, Lewis Travis, Harry Pickering and Hayden Carter from making the trip across the M62.

Match odds - Leeds Utd vs Blackburn

As Championship leaders, Leeds are as short as 1/3 to win on Wednesday, while the draw is 4/1 and Blackburn are 17/2 to grab all three points.

Both teams to score is 6/5 for the clash at Elland Road, while Leeds forward Joel Piroe is the 7/5 favourite to score anytime on Wednesday.

Draw/Leeds United - Half-time/full-time @ 11/4

Blackburn are without a win in three, but they will be confident of avoiding defeat at Elland Road after beating Leeds 1-0 in November.

The Whites are unbeaten in six games since that defeat, winning five of those games, but they are used to teams trying to frustrate them.

With games coming thick and fast, Leeds will just be happy to get the three points and against Derby they had to wait until the 79th minute to score the only goal of the match.

Blackburn have won four of their last five on the road, with three of those wins coming via a 1-0 scoreline.

Eustace's troops will be tough to break down and Leeds may need to wait until the second half to grab their goal.

Under 2.5 goals @ 1/1

Leeds may be setting the standard at the top of the table, but they have had to be patient in recent weeks.

Five of their last seven games have contained fewer than 2.5 goals, while the same bet has landed in 12 of Blackburn's previous 15 games in the Championship.

Rovers kept Leeds scoreless in their 1-0 success at Ewood Park, so this game could be a tough battle for both teams in a contest that may be decided by a single goal.

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Football Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.