Leeds United will be looking to build on their victory over Norwich City when they make the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday. The Whites ended a run of six consecutive defeats against Dean Smith’s side thanks to Joe Gelhardt’s dramatic stoppage time winner.
With a number of the sides around them not playing this weekend due to FA Cup commitments, Leeds have the opportunity to open up a seven point gap to the bottom three with a win. But they will have to do it against a Wolves side who are very much in the hunt for a place in Europe after back-to-back victories against Watford and Everton.
For just the second time this season, Leeds are set to kick-off the weekend on Sky Sports’ Friday Night Football.
With that in mind, here is a look at Leeds’ record when playing on a Friday night in each of the last four seasons.
Newcastle 1-1 Leeds (21/22)
Leeds’ only Friday night match so far this season came in September at St. James’ Park, where the Whites were forced to settle for a point after squandering an early 1-0 lead.
It turned out to be a costly evening for Leeds, with both Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford sustaining long-term injuries.
Fulham 1-2 Leeds (20/21)
Leeds finally ended their London hoodoo on a Friday night in March last year with a vital 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Goals from Patrick Bamford and Raphinha all but secured their Premier League safety that evening, as it moved Marcelo Bielsa’s side onto the magic 40-point mark.
Wolves 1-0 Leeds (20/21)
Incidentally, Leeds also made the trip to Molineux on a Friday night last season, too, where somehow they came away with nothing.
The Whites missed chance after chance that evening, only to be defeated by an Illan Meslier own goal, after Adama Traore’s long-ranged strike bounced off the post, onto his back and into the net.
Leeds 1-2 West Ham (20/21)
Leeds’ solitary Friday night home game since being back in the Premier League came against West Ham – where they surrendered an early lead to lose 2-1.
Mateusz Klich had given the Whites the lead from the spot, but goals from Tomas Soucek and Angelo Ogbonna earned David Moyes’s side the win.
Aston Villa 0-3 Leeds (20/21)
The emphatic 3-0 win at Aston Villa still remains right up there with the best performance and result since Leeds’ return to the Premier League.
Patrick Bamford netted all three goals to end Villa’s 100% start and move Leeds up to third in the table after just six matches.
Leeds 4-0 WBA (18/19)
Although the season eventually ended in disappointment, the 4-0 win over West Brom is right up there with the best displays under Marcelo Bielsa.
Pablo Hernandez set Leeds on there way with a stunning strike after just 16 seconds, before Patrick Bamford netted a brace and Ezgjan Alioski rounded off the scoring.
Leeds 2-0 Derby (18/19)
After all the controversy of ‘spy-gate’ in the build up this meeting, Leeds put on a show in front of a packed Elland Road against Derby County.
The Whites were dominant from start to finish with Kemar Roofe and Jack Harrison on the scoresheet, but it was Jack Clarke with a man of the match display who stole the headlines on his first league start for the club.
Sheff Wed 1-1 Leeds (18/19)
It was a tale of two stunners at Hillsborough as Leeds were forced to settle for a point against Sheffield Wednesday despite a dominant performance.
Adam Reach handed the Owls a first half lead with an incredible half-volley from distance, before Klich earned Leeds a share of the spoils with an inch perfect curling strike.
Leeds 0-0 Boro (18/19)
Perhaps a game that has not lived long in the memory of fans from the Bielsa reign was the 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough in August 2018.
After a lightning-fast start to the season from Leeds, Tony Pulis’ Boro came to Elland Road and frustrated the Whites into a dour 0-0 draw.
So, overall Leeds possess a decent record on Friday nights over the last three-and-a-half seasons, winning four, drawing three and losing two of their nine matches.
Leeds will be hoping they can harness that record into another positive result on Friday against Wolves.
