Chris Sutton has backed Leeds United to chalk up their first win of 2025 this weekend. The Whites enter tomorrow's FA Cup third round tie with Harrogate Town on the back of successive draws with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City.

United chief Daniel Farke is expected to field a much-changed starting XI against the League Two side at Elland Road tomorrow, kick-off 5:45pm. Writing in his weekly BBC prediction column, Sutton has tipped the Whites to win 2-0.

He said: "Harrogate are in the the third round for only the second time in their history but they are struggling at the moment. Their manager, Simon Weaver, is the son of the club's chairman - I could have done with my dad being the chairman when I was in charge at Lincoln, but he probably would have sacked me anyway.

READ MORE: Leeds United receive major Mergim Berisha update as transfer timeline set

READ MORE: 'Just devastation' - Harrogate Town captain on Leeds United injury woe and Gary McAllister

"Leeds are top of the Championship and going for automatic promotion, so they might make changes. They let a 3-1 slip away late on against Hull on Saturday, but they are not going to slip up here."

Farke was named the Championship manager of the month for December, beating Scott Parker, Danny Rohl and Marti Cifuentes to the prize respectively. The Whites went unbeaten last month, accumulating an impressive 16 points from six matches. It is the fifth time in Farke’s career he has claimed the award in the second tier of English football.

Farke said: “This award is a reflection of the hard work of everyone at the club in December. It was great to go unbeaten in what is a notoriously difficult month and now we have to keep going in the same manner.”

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman, who made up part of the judging panel, said: “Leeds had another strong month in December, and are now five points ahead of last season in their push for the Premier League. They had eight different scorers and only conceded two goals in a month that saw them collect 16 points from a possible 18.”

Former Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Wilson was also full of praise for United's form. “It was a great festive month for Daniel and his Leeds side," said Wilson, who chairs the panel. "Presents galore in the form of points. 16 returned in an unbeaten 6 games, an assortment of scorers and only conceding 2 goals, earning the right to move to the top of the tree in the Championship.”

In a statement released on the EFL website, Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies added: “Daniel Farke’s Leeds side were the preseason 4/1 favourites for the Championship title and now sit top of the table with 26 games played.

“They went unbeaten in December with a run of five wins and a draw. Their title odds have now shortened to 4/9 from 4/6 at the start of the month reflecting their recent dominance. A return to the Premier League would have been a clear objective at the start of the season and Leeds are now as short as 1/16 for promotion this season.”