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Leicester v Leeds: Pearson’s settled side too much for travel-sick United

| 10.08.2013

Nigel Pearson’s Leicester side head into Sunday’s home clash with Leeds as 4/5 favourites, and look set to continue their solid start to the season.

After the crushing heartache of losing in the play-off semi-finals to a 97th minute Watford strike, few could have blamed Leicester fans, and boss Nigel Pearson, for having concerns about how the team would recover.

But Pearson has shown faith in his squad, demonstrating his belief in their talents by making only two additions this summer – free transfer Zoumana Bagayoko from Tranmere and loan signing Ignasi Miguel from Arsenal.

So far, so good, as an opening day 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough – secured despite trailing at half time – was then followed by another away victory in midweek as they saw off League Two Wycombe 2-1 in the League Cup.

It should mean that all qualms about a play-off hangover should have been allayed by the time they line-up for their first home game of the season. Last season’s 14-goal striker David Nugent is off the mark and set to make his 100th appearance, and Pearson will be keen to stress that it is now business as usual.

That business includes a very solid home record at the King Power Stadium, as only three sides boasted a better record on their own turf in the Championship last season.

Their opponents come in to the game with a strikingly similar record this season – they defeated Brighton 2-1 on the opening day before dispatching League Two Chesterfield by the same scoreline on Wednesday. But crucially, this trip to Leicester will be their first away from Elland Road this term, where their record is as poor as Leicester’s home record is impressive.

Brian McDermott’s men have won away just once in 2013 – on the last day of last season – and only two sides accumulated fewer points on the road last term. It’s a real issue for Leeds and explains why they’re 10/3 to win this game. The visitors have won only once against the Foxes in their last eight meetings.

Last season’s top scorer, 20-goal Chris Wood, is favourite to open up his 2013/14 tally for the hosts with the first goal at 5/1, but goals run through this Leicester side and the likes of Nugent (6/1), Jamie Vardy (6/1) and Anthony Knockaert (7/1) are also worth considering.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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Author

Alexis James