Sky Blues On The Road - Leeds United

WHO ARE THEY?
Formed in 1904 as Leeds City. The club were wound up on the orders of the FA following allegations of illegal payments to players in October 1919. Leeds United was formed straight away and played in the Midland League for one season before being accepted into the Football League.

Three times they have won what is now the Premiership title and have also won the old Division Two title on three occasions. They have finished as league runners up on eight occasions. Leeds have won the FA & League Cup and have won the old Fairs Cup twice.

In 2001,they were Champions League Semi-Finalists but things took a turn for the worst for the Elland Road club with financial problems and relegation to the Championship in 2004.

Their current manager is former Sky Blue Dennis Wise who replaced Kevin Blackwell in Spetember.
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THEIR OFFICAL WEBSITE
http://www.leedsunited.com/page/Home/0,,10273,00.html
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LAST MATCH
Coventry drew 1-1 at home to Southend whilst Leeds lost 3-1 at Stoke City.

This is the 79th game between the two sides. City have won on only seventeen occasions with twenty one draws and forty defeats most of which have been at Elland Road.

Earlier in the season,City beat Leeds 1-0 with a 25th minute goal from Stern John. Last season City lost 3-1 at Elland Road, Don Hutchison scored a stunning goal for the Sky Blues.

City are 14th in the table with Leeds 23rd.
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CITY TEAM NEWS
Out are David McNamee,Stuart Giddings and Don Hutchison. Richard Duffy and Clive Clarke who missed the Southend game are doubts.

Leeds will be without Matt Heath who is ineligible to play against City.
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ABOUT THE GAME
Micky Adams who joined Leeds from City in 1987 and played in their beaten FA Cup Semi-Finalist side told the club website: "It's a game we're looking forward to. We'll have to make sure we recover properly and then see if we can freshen things up a little."

Gus Poyet told the Leeds United Official Website: "Monday is probably bigger than a final now. "We don't have much time, but we have to do everything we can to work with the players mentally and prepare. "It's up to us now on Monday. We were five points adrift before Saturday and we know we have to make those points up. "It's up to us. We can't blame anyone, it's our responsibility. We are all in this - everyone at the club. "We showed in the first half at Stoke but it wasn't enough. It's mentally now. We are strong enough as a team, but we have to do it. "We are confident we can sort it out. January is going to be the key, with players coming in."
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MATCH OFFICIALS
The currently appointed referee is M.Pike His assistants are P.Tierney & J.R Tyas with the Fourth Official being K.W.Haycock

Mr Pike has not been in charge of a City game this season but last season refereeed the home game against Preston.
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MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is at 3pm. Tickets are priced at Adults £26 Concessions £15 City supporters are in the South East Corner Upper Tier with a 2,000 allocation.
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WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny intervals are forecast with a high of eight degrees.
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HOW TO GET THERE
Coach Travel: Adult £20; Senior Citizen/Junior £17; Adult season ticket holder £15; Concession season ticket holder/JSB £10; Disabled £10. Coaches will depart the Ricoh Arena at 10.30am

By Car
M1 to junction with M621. Leave motorway after 1.5 miles and exit the roundabout on to the A643 for Elland Road.

Trains and buses are not expected to be running
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OTHER NEW YEAR'S DAY MATCHES
Championship: Burnley v Stoke,Palace v Norwich,Ipswich v Birmingham,Leicester v Sunderland, Luton v Cardiff, Plymouth v Southampton, Preston v Derby, QPR V Colchester,Sheff Wed v Hull,Southend v WBA,Wolves v Barnsley

If you are planning to go to any of the following games, please check they are on before setting out.

Conference North: Hinckley Town v Nuneaton Borough

SL PREM: Kings Lynn v Rugby Town Mid: Bedworth United v Rushall Olympic

Mid All: Cradley v Atherstone , Studley v RC Warwick Boldmere V Stratford, Leamington v Alvechurch

Mid Comb Prem: Feckenham v Alveston , Nuneaton Griff v Coventry Sphinx, Southam V Massey Ferguson, Coventry Copsewood v Castle Vale

Div One: Leamington Hibernian v Littleton, Stockingford v Mile Oak Rovers