
Daniel Mason
Sports Reporter
1:00 AM 7th December 2024
sports
Sport: What's On This Weekend? Dec 7th & 8th, 2024
![Photo: damonify]()
Photo: damonify
Festive football is underway and that means one thing, more games!
So whilst we’ve had an action-packed midweek, there is no rest for the players who take to the field again, ready for more great games of football.
Yorkshire, we have got lucky this week, as there are several high-profile ties taking place. Leeds are back at home, kicking us off with a big one this Saturday.
Saturday 7th December: Leeds United vs Derby County
The Whites welcome Derby County on the back of a 1-0 loss at Ewood Park, a game which saw Leeds lose their spot in second place to Burnley. The home side will be keen to put this behind them with a win in one of Saturday's three early kick offs in The Championship.
Despite heading into this game on the back of a loss, Leeds fans will take comfort in the fact that the visitors on the day are not in the best of form either. Derby are winless in four games, with their last win coming against the league’s most unpredictable side, Coventry City.
Leeds are the clear favourites for this tie, and with having scored nine goals in their last five games, and Derby’s record of not keeping a clean sheet in nine games, this one seems set for a few goals.
Wilfried Gnonto could be the man to watch on the day. He is in fine form at the moment, impressing in many games alongside top goalscorer Joel Piroe, who will be looking to increase his tally against a side which has conceded twenty-four goals in eighteen games.
If the odds weren’t tilted away from Derby already, the absence of Ebou Adams and Callum Elder, who are both missing through suspension, will leave the visitors without two of their usual starting eleven. The hosts however are also missing some important players, with Ilia Gruev, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Byram, all missing out through injury.
This game is sure to bring drama and goals, so is one that’s definitely worth a watch. The result is pivotal for both teams, as Derby will be keen to work their way out of a relegation battle, into a more comfortable mid-table position, whilst the hosts will be keen on keeping themselves firmly in the title race.
Date: Saturday 7th December 2024
Kick Off: 12:30pm
Location: Elland Rd, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 0ES
For details on tickets go to leedsunited.com
This game will also be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and other Sky broadcasting services
Saturday 7th December: Sheffield Wednesday vs Preston North End
Since their 6-2 battering to Watford, the Owls have kicked on and are unbeaten in three games, winning two, both away from home. A return to Hillsborough will give the chance for Wednesday to have their fans behind them, hoping to see their team claim their third win on the bounce for the first time this season.
They play host to Preston North End, who are winless in nine games. The Lilywhites do like a draw though, and can be hard to beat, having only lost six games during the course of the season. Despite this strong defensive record, they struggle to find the net themselves. A lack of goals correlates to a lack of wins as the visitors have just three wins all season, scoring seventeen goals in the process, giving them a record of less than a goal a game.
The last four meetings between these two sides have all finished 1-0, with both Wednesday and Preston coming away with two wins each. All this points to this tie being a close one, with both teams likely to focus on grabbing a goal and then sitting on it.
Wednesday know a win will move them into the top half of the table, whilst a loss for Preston could result in them ending the weekend in the relegation zone. This game is sure to be one of high stakes, and I expect there to be a few cards and hefty challenges during the ninety, as both sides will know the importance of the fixture for their position in the league table.
Date: Saturday 7th December 2024
Kick Off: 12:30pm
Location: Hillsborough Football Stadium, Leppings Lane, Sheffield, S6 1SW
For details on tickets go to swfc.co.uk
This game is also available to watch on Sky Sports+
Saturday 7th December: Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers
On Saturday, Yorkshire plays host to three Championship fixtures, with the last one we are covering, taking place in Hull, where the Tigers welcome high-flying Blackburn, who are arguably the league's top form team, winning their last three games. Hull will be keen to put a stop to this impressive run, but their own run of five losses on the bounce, makes it more likely that the the points will be going back to Lancashire.
Rovers’ three wins successive wins have been very impressive, including victories against Middlesborough and Leeds United. Therefore, they will be travelling to Yorkshire with confidence, and aiming to make it four wins on the bounce against an out of form Hull City side.
However, some comfort for home fans, is that they have had the better of their opponents of late, with Hull City taking maximum points in the last two games between these sides. Hull are also yet to lose this fixture since 2022 and will be hoping that they continue this feat on Saturday.
Hull are without nine first team players for this game, with notable absentees including Cody Drameh and Mohamed Belloumi, who have been top performers for the Tigers this season. Rovers are without eight players themsleves, including influential midfielders Todd Cantwell and Lewis Travers, leaving both squads thin on the ground.
Both teams will be going into match desperate for the three points. Hull City need the points in the fight against relegation, whilst Blackburn Rovers know that a win could push them into the play off positions for the first time since the beginning of November.
The outcome of this game is near impossible to predict, but what we are more confident of, is that this will not be a dull affair at the MKM Stadium.
Date: Saturday 7th December 2024
Kick Off: 15:00pm
Location: MKM Stadium, Walton Street, Hull, HU3 6HU
For details on tickets go to wearehullcity.co.uk