“Terrifying Tuesday” is probably not the right night for Leeds United to be playing promotion rivals Derby County. Leeds are currently scared of their own shadow and are coming into the fixture with some of the worst form in the league.

Derby County meanwhile haven’t lost in 6 games.

Will this be another night of horrors for Thomas Christiansen’s men?

Not if they re-discover some spirit and bring back from the dead the potential which took them to the top of the league. We all know what they are capable of, but too many players are experiencing a dip in form at the same time, almost bewitched by their earlier form.

Lasogga still doesn’t look fit to me and was largely ineffective in Friday’s loss to Sheffield. He was too deep and seems to lack the pace to get into the box from deep positions.

Christiansen’s Approach

When we are allowed to play our own game, we can be other-worldly, but teams have learned how to play against us. Fans are crying out for Christiansen to try a new formation: Show us a Plan B. Some supporters are even calling for three at the back.

However for me, I want to get back to basics and get those right first. Produce a solid rear line in front of the capable Lonergan and build from the back. Attack in formation and support Saiz.

Derby will not be as physical as say Preston or Milwall and should be pressed early. If Lasogga starts, then we need him in the box with ball providers on each wing: Dallas should start and with Alioski off form Friday, Roofe on the other wing.

What we know about Derby County

The Rams Manager is Gary Rowett, an ex-County footballer and former Manager of Burton Albion and Birmingham City.

They sit in 7th, with 22 points from 13 played.

Their 3 losses this season came against Wolves, Sheffield United and Bristol City. Their biggest loss was away to Bristol City 4–1, whilst their biggest win to date is 5–0 at home against Hull City.

Notable arrivals in the summer were Tom Lawrence from Leicester and Tom Huddlestone from Hull. Two of the departures were Will Hughes to Watford (£8m) and Tom Ince to Huddersfield Town.

Derby’s top scorer is Matej Vydra who has scored 7 goals from 9 shots on target. (With stats like that, I hope Orta is watching him just as closely as Jansson.)

Watch former White Bradley Johnson’s pre-match comments…

Injury news

Caleb Ekuban and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are joined by Liam Cooper on the injury list, whilst Gaetano Berardi and Kalvin Phillips are suspended.

Derby County have no new injury woes for this clash.

Form

Leeds United: L | L | L | W | L

Derby County: D | D | W | W | W

Head to head

From 52 encounters, Leeds have won 29 with Derby winning 10 and the rest (13) drawn.

WHAT

Leeds United vs. Derby County

EFL Championship Fixture

#LEEDER

WHERE

Elland Road, Leeds

LUTV, BBC Radio Leeds, RamsPlayer HD

WHEN

Tuesday, 31 October 2017

7:45pm BT

WHO

Leeds United’s predicted starting XI

Lonergan, Anita, Jansson, Pennington, Ayling, O’Kane, Vieira, Dallas, Saiz, Alioski, Lasogga

Derby County’s predicted starting XI

Carson, Wisdom, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth, Huddlestone, Ledley, Lawrence, Vydra, Johnson, Nugent

ODDS

Leeds 7/5

Draw 9/4

Derby 2/1

PREDICTION

Leeds will banish their ghouls on Tuesday night and send Gary Rowett home looking like a pumpkin. 2–0 Leeds.