3 GAMES RESCHEDULED: Leeds United handed early kick-off warning ahead of TV broadcast vs Portsmouth & others
3 GAMES RESCHEDULED: Leeds United handed early kick-off warning ahead of TV broadcast vs Portsmouth & others
Leeds United will be confident of racking up enough points to secure a top-two spot given the opposition left to face.
Following Saturday’s draw with West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road, the Whites do not face a top seven club in their final 11 games of the Championship season. Daniel Farke, though, will be sure not to under-estimate any opponent and knows he faces a different kind of test next week.
The manager has underlined the fact that TV scheduling will now see United play three games in seven days, which include two lengthy away trips. The visit to Portsmouth was due to take place this Saturday but has been pushed back for a midday kick-off on Sunday.
The midweek evening home game with Millwall the following Wednesday has not been altered, but the visit to London to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday has been brought forward from a 3pm start to a lunchtime.
United have two weeks until their next game after that but many players will be jetting off to feature for their countries over the international break. The turnaround is very tight. And there is another trend to overcome.
Leeds do not have the best record with early kick-offs, having only won two of their past 12 fixtures staged before 1.30pm. In that run, there have been four losses and United have scored more than one goal on just three occasions.
There have long been complaints about kick-off times being moved to lunchtime for TV. Fans have difficulty travelling and are usually not as vibrant, players are not at peak sharpness and very rarely are there any thrillers.
United have – for now – four early kick-offs left this season, and all of them are away from home. It begins with a noon start at Fratton Park this Sunday before the 12.30pm match with QPR the following weekend.
The away trip to Luton Town on April 5 is currently a 12.30pm match, as is the final day visit to Plymouth on May 3 – albeit all Championship fixtures will kick off at this time.
The scheduling adds another hurdle in United’s path and there could be yet more fixtures moved should broadcasters say so.
The good news is that both of the wins in those past 12 early kick-offs have come this season, and within the last four matches. In fact, they are unbeaten in four when told to play early, though three of these were staged at Elland Road.
Still, keep on that kind of form form and United may soon be set for the silver screen of the Premier League.
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