After Souleymane Doukara made the headlines with a stupendous volley in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, Leeds United travel to Gander Green Lane to do battle with Vanarama National League side Sutton United in the FA Cup fourth round.

It is (late) January. The month in which the lens of the assembled media becomes firmly fixated upon the FA Cup. Leeds United’s match away to Sutton United is to be broadcast on live television, with BT Sport airing the fixture to all - free of any charge.

The fixture has been selected for broadcast for precisely the same reason as the Cambridge match was only a matter of weeks ago. Once more, Leeds will face the nauseating spectacle of having each and every media outlet in the country eagerly anticipating a shock victory for the underdogs; circling like vultures should the Whites be felled by what are vastly inferior opposition.

In the third round of course, Garry Monk’s charges mounted a spirited fightback to overturn a 1-0 deficit that had been imposed upon them by a quite splendid swivel and shot from Uche Ikpeazu in the first-half. Goals from Stuart Dallas and the now departed Alex Mowatt proved decisive as the dreams of the valiant Cambridgeshire outfit were shattered into tiny fragments.

Tomorrow’s opponents Sutton meanwhile, masterminded a 3-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow in the last round after holding Neal Ardley’s men to a 0-0 draw at Gander Green Lane. The U’s, whose first-team managerial duties have been administered by Paul Doswell since 2008, currently sit 15th in the Vanarama National League after cruising to the Vanarama National League South title in 2015-16; accruing 90 points and scoring no less 83 goals in the process.

Upon their victory over phoenix club AFC Wimbledon, memories of the 1989 clash between Sutton and Coventry City were evoked in the minds of many an observer, but quite whether this match will bear any resemblance of that, the most venerable and illustrious day in the entirety of the hosts’ history, is an open question. Whatever occurs however, will be witnessed by a sell-out crowd at the 7,032 capacity Gander Green Lane, with supporters clamouring to view what they desire to be a memorable FA Cup tie.

Team News

Leeds United

Garry Monk is set to preside over wholesale changes to the starting lineup that saw off the challenge of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, with a beady eye cast upon his side’s upcoming clash with Blackburn Rovers in a matter of days.

Three of the Whites’ most salient stars; hefty defender Kyle Bartley, tenacious midfielder Liam Bridcutt and prolific forward Chris Wood, are therefore all likely to be afforded a rest.

It is plausible that defender Liam Cooper and winger Hadi Sacko could both be granted starts, but left-back Charlie Taylor (Achilles) remains sidelined.

Sutton United

Sutton stalwart Paul Doswell will no doubt be euphoric at the confirmed availability of captain Jamie Collins and former Crawley Town winger Roarie Deacon, who has scored an impressive four goals in his side's remarkable run to the fourth round.

Collins is available for selection once more after serving a two-match suspension following a reckless accumulation of 10 yellow cards, while Deacon was exempted from action in the U’s FA Trophy fixture with Worthing as he would have missed out on tomorrow’s match had he been booked.

Probable Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Silvestri; Coyle, Jansson, Bartley, Denton; Vieira, Phillips; Sacko, Grimes, Doukara; Antonsson.

Sutton United (4-4-2) - Worner; Spence, Amankwaah, Collins, Jefford; Gomis, Bailey, Eastmond, Deacon; Tubbs, Biamou.

Team Facts

Leeds United

Top Goalscorers: Chris Wood (20), Souleymane Doukara (5), Kyle Bartley (4).

Most Assists: Kemar Roofe (5), Pablo Hernandez (5), Hadi Sacko (3).

Highest Statistical Average Rating: Pontus Jansson (7.65).

Record in 2016-17 (League) - W - 16, D - 3, L - 9.

Goals For: 39

Goals Against: 27

Last 5 Matches: WWWLW

Sutton United

Top Goalscorers: Roarie Deacon (8), Maxime Biamou (6), Jamie Collins (6).

Highest Statistical Average Rating: Roarie Deacon (N/A).

Record in 2016-17 (League) - W -10, D - 6, L - 12.

Goals For: 31

Goals Against: 36

Last 5 Matches: LDWDW

Media: Leeds United head coach Garry Monk speaking to LUTV:

The pitch, team selection, and the presence of a winning mentality were all discussed by Garry Monk as he tended to his obligatory media duties yesterday.

“We will have to make changes, we have a game against Blackburn Rovers on the following Wednesday,” began Monk.

“We have to get the balance right in the squad to be competitive in both games.

“Our aim doesn’t change, we want to win, we have that mentality, we want to go to Sutton and put on a good performance.

“Whoever steps on that pitch knows what is expected of them and the levels they need to reach, I have confidence in everyone.

“Sutton will think this is an opportunity to beat us, so we have to be ready and prepared for that.

“The pitch changes the game, it is a different surface and one we are not used to, but there are no excuses from us,” he concluded.

Match Facts

The sides have clashed in the prestigious competition on one previous occasion. A rampant and well-oiled Leeds machine, constructed by the revered Don Revie, emerged as comfortable 6-0 victors 47 years ago in 1970.

Sutton are the lowest-ranked team remaining in this year’s edition of the competition.

In the fourth round, the last team from a league beneath Leeds to eliminate the Whites from the FA Cup were Oxford United, in January 1994 - Leeds have won their last five fourth-round ties of this variety, most recently in the 2002-03 season, against Gillingham.

Key Men

Leeds United: Hadi Sacko, Winger

Possessed of electrifying pace, the fleet-footed Frenchman, 22, has been absent from first-team action in recent weeks but is likely to return to the starting lineup tomorrow in place of Stuart Dallas. The Sporting Club De Portugal loanee can be a livewire with the ball at his feet, and his speed, adroitness and guile are attributes that could pose many a problem to the Sutton United defence.

Fact: Sacko scored his most recent goal for Leeds in a 4-1 devastation of Preston North End at Deepdale back in December.

Sutton United: Roarie Deacon

A product of the prolific Arsenal academy, and a four-time international at U19 level for England between 2009-10, Roarie Deacon has firmly established himself as a prominent figure at Gander Green Lane since signing for the club in the last summer transfer window. Perhaps the finest encapsulation of the degree to which he has made a positive impact at Sutton United is the fact that he has since been dubbed ‘the magic man’, by both supporters and his manager, Paul Doswell. Blessed with an efficacious right-foot, along with copious amounts of pace, Deacon has tormented defenders in the both the National League and the FA Cup this season, and a move to a more prosperous club appears plausible in the near future.

Fact: Deacon, 25, has scored eight goals in all competitions for Sutton United this season.

Writer’s Prediction: Sutton United 0-2 Leeds United

Garry Monk is anticipated to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup for the match in question, and so I can envisage him fielding a markedly similar side to that which defeated Cambridge United in the last round. Despite the inevitable plethora of changes, I cannot look beyond ourselves for this match; of the players who started the match against Cambridge, only Tyler Denton had failed to appear for us in league competition. One can deduce from their quite luminous exploits in the FA Cup this season that Sutton are a diligent and valorous side, but I previse that there’ll be no shock for the assembled press to fawn over come the final whistle.

Statistics derived from WhoScored.com

Photo: Action Images

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