Mon 24 Jul - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Just 12 days now separate the Rams from the start of the new football season.
dcfc.co.uk has been counting down the days to Derby County’s opening day Sky Bet Championship clash at Sunderland by previewing all the clubs that Gary Rowett’s men will face over the course of the year.
From Aston Villa to Ipswich Town, we have looked at 11 teams to date and today we move on to the halfway mark!
Next up is a club that looked well on course for a top-six finish, but for a late twist in fortunes…
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Nickname: The Whites
Stadium Capacity: 37,890
Last Season’s Finishing Place: 7th (75 Points)
Top Scorer (2016/17): Chris Wood (27 Goals)
Promotion Odds (According to Coral): 11/2
Home – Tuesday 20th February 2018
Away – Tuesday 31st October 2017
Derby County 1-0 Leeds United
Leeds United 1-0 Derby County
Last season was the giant stride forward that Leeds United had been targeting since their return to the Sky Bet Championship in 2010.
After five years of floating around midtable, the Whites were on the cusp of the play-offs and looked a certain bet for a top-six finish until a run of one win in their final eight games saw them fall behind a rampant Fulham.
The foundations, however, are in place for Leeds to push forward once more.
Garry Monk was the man in charge last term and the former Swansea City boss immediately sought to bring in key individuals, adding in quality in the form of Pablo Hernandez, Pontus Jansson and Liam Bridcutt.
Leeds did have to overcome a slow start to the year, however, to mount their charge.
The Whites won once in their first six, but found their feet after that to become one of the teams to beat in the second tier, with their 27-goal star striker Chris Wood instrumental, up to the beginning of February.
At that stage, they were fourth and just five points off the automatic promotion spots.
Even by March, they were a sure bet for the top six, but a run of two wins from 11 saw them slip out of play-off pack and forced to settle for an eventual seventh place finish.
A lot has happened an Elland Road since they ended their campaign with a 1-1 draw at relegated Wigan Athletic.
There has been a change in head coach to start with. Monk departed Leeds and has since taken over the reins at recently relegated side Middlesbrough.
He was replaced by former Barcelona striker Thomas Christiansen and after a clutch of new signings – and the fact that Leeds have retained the core of their squad – they are in a good place to move forward over the 2017/18 season.
