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LEeds United have 33-1 shots to be relegated from the Premier League this season, so they could be free to give the FA Cup a real shot. With Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds do not seem like a team capable of playing any games at half pace, although they will surely rotate against Crawley Town in League Two.
Crawley had a strong cup streak in 2011 while still in the National League, reaching the fifth round before being beaten by Manchester United, inspired by forward Matt Tubbs who finished that season with 37 goals in all competitions. They now also have a television personality and the star of The Only Way is Essex, Mark Wright, in their ranks, who is having one last chance in the professional game at age 33.
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper is available for today’s game after nearly three weeks out with an abdominal injury.
Speaking in preparation for the game, Bielsa said: “For me [the FA Cup] represents English football in its purest form. It allows you to connect with the history of clubs in England.
“The mere fact that we have to analyze the opponent that we are going to face, allows us to take a look at League Two, the stadiums and the style of play.
“Crawley is a team that responds to a direct approach and their defensive organization is also a tradition.”
John Yems, Crawley manager: “I just hope Leeds will give us their money back, which would be a very nice gesture, so we can start paying for some things.
“You wouldn’t get as much as you normally would because there’s no crowd.
“But in the current climate, it would be nice if, as they used to in the old days, some big clubs donated a little bit to you. But who knows?”
Full team news on the way shortly.
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