Match Preview - Leeds United V Exeter City
By Rich Baggott
August 6 2009
Exeter mark their first match since promotion to League 1 with a difficult trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the season opener. Kick-off is 3pm. Before the match, Leeds legend, Norman Hunter, a member of the Engalnd World Cup winning squad on 1966 will be presented with his medal by Jack Charlton.
Over 24,000 people are expected at Elland Road to see the start of Leeds' 
campaign to achieve promotion at the third attempt - and they say the third time is the lucky one!
Having failed in their bid to reach the Play-off finals, beaten by Millwall in the two-legged affair last term, the Whites will be keen to avoid the play-off lottery and go up automatically in one of the top two places, and there is no better time to start that attempt than three points against Exeter on Saturday.
Of course the talented midfielder, Fabian Delph won't be appearing having signed for Aston Villa this week but Leeds, at the time of writing, have managed to hang on to Jermaine Beckford and his goals will be crucial if Leeds are to attempt an assault on the League.
Leeds welcome some new faces too. Shane Higgs has joined as competiton for Casper Ankergren and could even be pushing for a start after impressing in the pre-season games. Jason Crowe is likely to start after joingng from Northampton and will step in to the right-back position left vacant by Frazer Richardson and Patrick Kisnorbo is available to cover for the injured Richard Naylor who is coming back to fitness following back surgery over the summer.
In midfield, who will fill the void left by Delph is more difficult to predict. 
Kilkenny is carrying a knock and may not be available but Boss, Simon Grayson was quick to piint out recently that Prutton and Johnson are both capable of cover if required.
Up front, Beckford and Becchio should start, providing no late bids appear for Beckford. Rumours yesterday suggested West Brom may be looking to bid but nothing has materilised as yet. Mike Grella should be on the bench and the pacey American will be looking to get his first competitive goal after scoring in Pre-Season and impressing in the reserves.
Our predicted line up:-
Ankergren
Crowe Marques Lubo Parker
Snodgrass Howson Johnson Robinson
Beckford Becchio
Key Man: Beckford
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Lubo has done well pre-season and has the expreince of Elland Road, plus played more games last season.
Might be too much to throw kisnorbo straight in. Was jsut a thought!
But I still think it'll be Rui and Kisnorbo at CB and I would put Doyle in the middle with Jonny with Bradley playing out wide on the left.
For me its:-
Higgs
Crowe Rui Kisnorbo Parker
Snoddy Howson Doyle Johnson
Bex Becchio
Subs: Casper Hughes Lubo Prutton Robinson Grella Enoch
BB
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