Leeds v Derby: Expect goals as old rivals clash

1Apr 2013

England - The Championship

Andy Tongue predicts an open game at Elland Road with neither side left with much to play for this season

Monday April 1

17:05 GMT

Live on Sky Sports

With the Championship even closer than ever this season you're hard pressed to find two sides with nothing to play for but this televised fixture has just about managed that, though mutual antipathy stretching back to the time of the legendary Brian Clough will ensure a lively enough clash between these old rivals.

Leeds

Neil Warnock's side have fallen away in recent weeks, having threatened to make a late run for the play-offs, and Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Ipswich, a game they dominated until Tom Lees was sent off, was their fifth successive game without a win. Warnock is openly speculating about who will replace him in the summer, having said he had no interest in managing a Championship team next season, which cannot help his players' motivation for their remaining fixtures.

Derby

If it's difficult to make a case for the home side then it's no easier to justify backing Derby on the road-they have not won away from Pride Park since December 15 and it's only their superb home form, which has kept them in the top half of the table. Despite their inability to win away from home, Nigel Clough's side have, however, scored in each of their last seven games and with an open game in prospect at Elland Road, I expect them to get on the scoresheet again.

Both Teams to Score

This looks a hard game to call outright. Leeds at 2.32 might attract some support given they have been strong at home for the majority of the season and the Rams' poor away record but the best bet looks to back both teams to score at 1.87. At this stage of the season and with little at stake we should see an open game, which often leads to goals, and this would have paid out in each of Derby's last seven fixtures on the road.

First Goalscorer

Steve Morison has netted three times since moving to Elland Road as a makeweight in the deal which saw Luciano Becchio join Norwich and has plenty of ability at this level. It's worth a small play on him at the best available price to open the scoring.

Recommended Bets

Best: Back Both Teams to Score at 1.87

Other: Back Steve Morison as First Goalscorer at the best available price