ON New Year's Day, Rovers travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds United, whose form has fluctuated wildly since their impressive start to the season. After winning their first three games, Howard Wilkinson's men managed just four victories in their next 14 games, giving their manager a severe attack of indigestion in the process!

A recent 6-2 drubbing at Sheffield Wednesday was followed by a 3-1 demolition of Man United, which provides the best possible example of how unreliable their form has become. Mediocre one match; brilliant the next.

Leeds have potentially the Premiership's most explosive attackers in Tony Yeboah and Swedish superstar Tomas Brolin, yet neither has managed to ignite the fuse.

Yeboah went off like a rocket at the beginning of the season, scoring at will, but was nowhere near as effective in subsequent matches, though he came alive against Man U.

Brolin opened his scoring account at Wednesday but is still struggling to adapt to the hustle and bustle of English football.

As always, Leeds-born David Batty is bound to get a hostile reception on his return to his old club.

Rovers face a difficult task - especially as their away form continues to give management and fans a worrying time.

But if they catch Leeds on one of their all too frequent 'off days,' Ray Harford's men will be presented with the chance to avenge last month's 2-1 Coca Cola Cup defeat.

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