Leeds hoping for return of sharp-shooters against Middlesbrough

Neil Redfearn says his Leeds side have a great chance of mirroring Middlesbrough’s fantastic season, over the next few years, as the sides prepare to go head-to-head at the Riverside.

The visitors are 5/1 with Coral to beat the Championship table-toppers, even though the West Yorkshire outfit are undefeated in three meetings against them, even beating Aitor Karanka’s men earlier this term, with Billy Sharp firing in a last-gasp winner.

Previously on Teesside, Leeds held Boro to a stalemate, and prior to that secured a 2-1 victory at home. To repeat the exact victory from August, Redfearn’s side have odds of 14/1, with Sharp priced at 10/3 to score anytime.

Leeds are actually on a good run of form in the Championship with just one defeat in seven outings, beating Millwall 1-0 last time out. Having also recorded a 2-0 win over Reading at the Madejski, it means they haven’t conceded in their previous two matches.

Defensive restoration was deemed a priority when Redfearn was appointed, and with the signing of experienced centre back Sol Bamba, they appeared to have turned a corner.

Refearn recognises Boro’s rise to the top, with the club likely to be promoted, and sees no reason why Leeds can’t take inspiration from this.

“That’s got to be the target,” said Redfearn. “These sides that are up there and challenging have put two or three seasons together where they have planned and built and gradually improved. If you look at us, I suppose really we are right in the infancy of what we’re doing.

“We’ve had a lot of upheaval this season and we’ve had a little bit of a struggle as well and it’s been tough. But a lot of these young players have now got experience of that and have come out the other side and still look good.

“They are going to benefit from that and this is part of this building process. If we can add better players to what we’ve got now then you don’t know, in a couple of years’ time we could be serious contenders.”