With Sibongiseni

Leeds United just cannot afford to slip up in tonight’s encounter against English Championship strugglers Preston North End as a defeat could see them toppled from the top of the English Championship.

United lead the way with 15 points after seven matches. A win will see them keep their lead but a defeat could see second-placed Brentford overtake them.

Brentford are away to bottom team Ipswich Town, who have not won as yet, on the same evening, while Bristol City, playing at West Brom, will also go top if they win and Leeds lose or draw.

Lucas Radebe’s former side have become early favourites for promotion but need to keep their good start going a little longer and collect enough points early on if they are to fulfil their promise. I don’t see Preston providing much resistance in this match and Marcelo Bielsa’s side should easily cruise through.

Preston are second-from-bottom after just one win in their first seven matches. At the weekend, they lost 3-2 at home to Reading, while Leeds drew 1-1 at Millwall. Leeds also drew the game before that, against Middlesbrough, but should be too strong for Preston, whose only win so far came on the very first day of the campaign, at home to QPR.