Championship High-Flyers Seek Revenge Against Leeds

Leeds United are only three points above the Championship relegation zone and their move towards safety must start tonight (19:45) at home to league leaders Bournemouth. What compounds United`s struggle is the fact that the Cherries have earned 18 points from their last seven games.

The Dorset side dropped their first points since the end of November just a fortnight ago as they lost at home to play-off hopefuls Norwich. Matt Richie scored the opening goal for Eddie Howe`s men but succumbed to a Canaries goal in either half from Gary Hooper and Cameron Jerome.

Bournemouth successfully bounced back from this defeat by recording a 2-0 win away at relegation-threatened Rotherham in the league. Tommy Elphick grabbed the first goal in the dying minutes of the first half before Callum Wilson doubled up for the visitors.

Wilson is talismanic for his club, having scored 12 times in the league. The 22-year-old former Coventry City star can be picked up at 13/10 (ladbrokes) to record his 15th goal of the season at any time.

Bet365`s 6/1 is the best price available for those thinking that Wilson will hit his third brace of the season. Neil Redfearn`s home side will be cautious of the Cherries` away record, Bournemouth having last lost on the road in the league back in September. The club failed to strike past fellow promotion contenders Derby, who bagged two, in the same month that Howe`s men hosted Leeds at Dean Court.

Andrew Surman grabbed a goal in only the sixth minute to put the home side ahead, though Leeds struck the back of the net three times in the second half to claim the win. Souleymane Doukara equalised in the 67th minute for the Whites before both Guiseppe Bellusci and Mirco Antenucci scored in the last ten minutes of the clash.

In spite of this, it is high-flying Bournemouth who are the favourites for the victory with bet365 and Betvictor pricing the team up at 3/4. Twenty-one to five with 32red, 888sport and unibet says that Leeds will secure an important home win whilst a draw is available at 3/1 (bet365, Betvictor).

It`s 23/10 with sportingbet should you think that the two teams will bag over 3.5 goals once again tonight.

The Elland Road outfit are yet to record a victory in 2015 and have picked up just seven points from their last five games at home.

Their first home league fixture of the year came against the improving Birmingham City at the weekend, the home team needing an 86th minute effort to see the teams share the spoils. Paul Caddis converted a penalty in the opening 10 minutes for Gary Rowett`s in-form side before Luke Murphy struck four from time to see the Whites rescue a vital point.

Prior to this clash, the Yorkshire club had failed to net in either of their previous two Championship games at home. The club first failed to get the better of Fulham who grabbed a goal through Hugo Rodallega, before Leeds` Boxing Day encounter with Wigan ended 2-0 to the Latics.

The home side will be buoyed by the return of Swiss right-back Gaetano Berardi who missed the Birmingham game following an injury to his hamstring. The 26-year-old is something of a law unto himself after having earned himself two red cards and three yellows so far this season.

Howe`s men may still be without first-choice `keeper Artur Boruc, a concern with his neck being cited for his continued absence. Should he still be sidelined, Lee Camp will play his ninth Championship game of the season with Ryan Allsop returning from Coventry to provide cover.

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20/01/2015     © Frixo 2026