Leeds v Spurs - team news

By Andy Baggott
January 9 2004

Leeds go into tomorrow’s must win game without the services of the injured David Batty, and suspended Alan Smith. Eddie Gray is expected to revert to a 4-4-2 formation in a bid to get a victory against fellow strugglers Spurs.

. Batty limped out of the game at Newcastle on Wednesday with an ankle injury, and his replacement, Saloman Olembe, is pushing for a rare start before he heads off to the African Nations cup with Cameroon. Eirik Bakke is also in contention after being rested mid week, and Seth Johnson’s place is up for grabs, after a poor game on Wednesday. The main benefactor of a 4-4-2 formation may be Michael Bridges, and the former Sunderland man is desperate for a return to first team action. I see a starting line up along the lines of Robinson, Kelly, Duberry, Kilgallon, Harte (or Olembe/Matteo), a midfield of Pennant, Milner, Olembe, Matteo (or Bakke if one plays left back), and Viduka and Bridges up front.

Spurs have had 2 impressive results, and the forwards seem to be finding form at just the right time. Our ex player, Robbie Keane scored on Wednesday, and leading scorer Kanoute will be keen to show the Spurs fans what they will be missing when he flies off in controversial fashion to join up with Mali also in the African Nations. New signing Michael Brown is suspended, so won’t play a part, but the visitors seem to be getting a few key players back from injury, so it will prove a big test for Eddie Grays men..