Boss Mick McCarthy says few would have expected Town’s visit to Leeds United on Saturday being a top versus fifth clash at the start of the season. The Whites currently lead the division with the Blues only two points behind with a game in hand.
"Who’d have thought it, Leeds top and us fifth going there playing them, a top-six clash,” McCarthy reflected at his pre-match press conference.
"I would imagine there would have been a bit of doom and gloom there, losing [manager] Garry Monk and then [striker] Chris Wood.
"Just shows you, change is not always bad for clubs. The new head coach, Thomas Christiansen, I don’t know much about him but he’s certainly made them a very, very organised unit.
"They were flying and, typical of this league, they went to Millwall and Millwall beat them last week.
"And I’ve yet to sit down and watch the video of how Burton beat Fulham, I don’t know how that happened, bearing in mind Fulham murdered us.
"But Leeds, I want to get there and beat them on Saturday, but for all other intents and purposes, I’d love to see them doing well.
"Everybody knows I supported them as a kid and, as a Yorkshire club, I just think it’s a fantastic club and I’d like them to do well. But not at my expense and I’m sure everybody understands that.”
He added: "They’ll be wanting to slap us as well, we’re in the top six. They’ll be thinking, ‘Keep them well away from us’.
"It’s their home patch, they’ve lost against Millwall, there’s bound to be a response, so it’s not going to be an easy game for either of us. I want to go there and win.”
Despite last week’s loss, he expects Elland Road to be buoyant given the early season success, while not taking anything for granted: "I would imagine that they’re all enjoying it and they’re all probably looking at it through one eye thinking, ‘I hope this is going to continue’ because of past promises, I guess, and they’ve not done it.
"But they do look a good side this year, despite the defeat at Millwall last week. They look a really strong team.”
Although he says he doesn’t know new Whites boss Christiansen, he has been impressed with what he has heard about him and hopes the pair will meet for a beer after the match.
LEEDS (A): We have just been informed that this match has been designated as ALL TICKET with no sales on the day. #ITFC pic.twitter.com/XqvFg2xIJC– ITFC_PlanetBlue (@ITFC_PlanetBlue) September 21, 2017