Dan James has had 23 shots on target across his 22 Championship appearances this season, 17 of these have been starts taking his average to 1.38 shots on target per 90 resulting in 7 goals for the 27 year old. Leeds are averaging 5.7 shots on target per game in the Championship this season, the best record in the division. They’re facing up against a Burnley side that boast the best defensive record in the division but did concede 17 shots and 4 shots on target in the initial meeting between the sides earlier in the season. James has had at least 1 shot on target in each of his last 5 appearances in the Championship, he’s hit 2+ shots in 4 of these games suggesting that’s a player that can cause this Burnley backline problems and add to his 7 goals he’s recorded this season.

Pires has committed 20 fouls across his 20 Championship appearances this season (1.16 per 90). His versatility in being comfortable in either fullback position has been invaluable to Burnley this season but he’s expected to line up in his traditional left back role here. He’ll be up against Dan James who has the speed and directness to trouble any opposing fullback. For Leeds to get success in this game, they will have to focus their attacks down the wide areas. Burnley are far too secure in the middle of the park and limit space incredibly well but the wide areas are where Leeds can find joy with great 1v1 players in these areas in James and Soloman. Pires is part of a Burnley side that is averaging 12.8 fouls committed per game in the Championship this season, a record only bettered by Preston North End. Burnley committed 13 fouls on their opponents in the initial meeting between the sides at Elland Road earlier in the season. Pires played as a right back and committed 1 foul from his 7 duels.

Tanaka has become a popular figure at Elland Road since his transfer from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer. The central midfielder has won 30 fouls across his 25 appearances in the Championship this season (1.47 per 90). He’s facing up against a Burnley side that have committed the second most fouls in the division (12.8 per game) and committed 13 at Elland Road in the initial meeting between the sides earlier in the campaign. Tanaka came on in the 86th minute in that fixture but both central midfielders in Gruev and Ampadu who started the game were fouled at least once. Tanaka has won at least 1 foul in 4 of his last 5 games in the Championship, further evidencing his ability to draw fouls from the opposition. Burnley will look to limit space in central areas for Leeds and force them wide, with Tanaka a clear target to be brought down at least once.

This is a meeting of attack against defence with the Championship’s top scorers in Leeds making the trip to Turf Moor to face up against the side with the best defensive record in the Championship this season. Leeds are averaging 5.7 shots on target per game in the Championship this season which is the highest in the division, they’ve drawn 2+ saves from the opposition goalkeeper in 25 of their 28 games in the Championship this season (89%) and drew 4 saves from Trafford in the initial meeting between the sides at Elland Road. Trafford is averaging 2.04 saves per game in the Championship this season with a remarkable save percentage of 85.9%. Burnley’s goalkeeper has been forced into making 2+ saves in 16 of their 28 games this season (57%).

If Burnley are to get something from this game, they cannot rely on their defensive resolve alone. They must have a threat going the opposite way which is where Flemming can make a difference. Flemming is often played as a number 9 with instructions to drop in and help the midfield when they are outnumbered. This role has still seen him produce a solid shot record with 18 shots on target across his 19 Championship appearances this season (1.33 per 90). Flemming had 2 shots on target in the initial meeting between the sides at Elland Road earlier in the season which ended in a 1-0 victory for Scott Parker’s side. Leeds will commit bodies forward which should see Burnley get the majority of their opportunities on the transition where Flemming can find the target at least once.

It could be easy for Leeds to get frustrated here, Burnley won’t mind being without the ball or sticking to their solid defensive structure which is why it might take a bit of magic from the wide players to open this game up. Dan James has won 22 fouls across his 22 Championship appearances this season (1.32 per 90). His speed and directness make him a handful for any fullback and he’ll be lining up against Lucas Pires here. Pires has committed 20 fouls across his 20 Championship appearances this season (1.16 per 90). He contested 7 duels in the initial meeting between the sides at Elland Road earlier in the season resulting in 1 foul committed.

No Burnley player has collected more yellow cards this campaign than Josh Cullen (7). The central midfielder’s tenacity reflects the attitude Scott Parker wants to see from his side. Burnley’s 12.8 fouls committed per game is the second highest in the division but this hasn’t quite been reflected in their card numbers this season. Burnley have collected 53 yellow cards this campaign which is around the mid table mark but still a considerable amount more than their opponents who have been shown 46 yellow cards. Burnley always limit the space for the opposition in the middle of the pitch, one of the ways they achieve this is instructing their central midfielders to be very aggressive off the ball which informs their high foul rate and steady card numbers this season. Burnley picked up 6 cards in the initial meeting between the sides at Elland Road earlier in the season, including a red card late on.

This game is very tough to call a winner in, if there is going to be a winner it’s likely to be by a 1 goal margin making backing Burnley at Turf Moor with a +1 handicap a sensible option here. Burnley have been formidable at home this season, Scott Parker’s side are yet to be defeated on home turf with 6 wins and 7 draws from their 13 encounters. Furthermore, Burnley have only conceded 4 goals in these home games which is far and away the best record in the division. Whilst they aren’t blowing sides away, they are compact and very tough to beat making a convincing Leeds victory unlikely. Burnley came out on top in the initial meeting between the sides in a typical Scott Parker performance in which they took the lead early and then managed the game expertly to collect all 3 points. Not many sides have managed to keep clean sheets against Leeds this season, Burnley are part of an exclusive group of just 6 sides that have managed to keep Daniel Farke’s side at bay this season.