Leeds United 2015/16 season

League Position: 13th (2014/15: 15th)

Average league attendance: 22,446 (2014/15: 24,051)

Top league goalscorer: Chris Wood (13)

Since last being a Premier League team in 2004, Leeds United have struggled to find an answer to their burning desire to return to the top flight. Managers have come and gone, each tasked with finding a system that could emulate past successes when players like Paul Robinson, Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Keane were on their books.

This season was no different, with former Brentford boss Uwe Rosler appointed in the summer to try and find a way back to England's top tier. Undefeated in the league by the end of August, a draw with Burnley and a win at Derby under his belt, things seemed to be on track for the German manager. However, after a 1-1 draw with The Bees in early September, United went on a run of four defeats in five games with their only victory coming against 10-man Mk Dons. Rosler was sacked immediatey after the fifth game, a 2-1 loss to Brighton.

Steve Evans was given the job the following Monday and the team slowly gathered momentum over the next few weeks, until they had climbed into the top half of the table by the end of December. Summer signings Stuart Dallas [Brentford], Chris Wood [Leicester City] and Liam Bridcutt [Sunderland] were added to in January by Mustapha Carayol [Middlesbrough], Jack McKay [Doncaster Rovers] and Toumani Diagouraga [Brentford].

Despite the new faces, Leeds continued to yo-yo their way around the midde of the table, but did go all the way to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Their run ended with a 1-0 defeat to Watford shortly after drawing the second meeting between themselves and Brentford in late January.

As the season progressed, wins came against the teams around them like Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-1), Blackburn Rovers (2-1) and Birmingham (2-1). However, matches against some of the bigger teams ended in heavy defeats and even the teams at the bottom were causing them problems. They ended the season in 13th, two places better than the last two campaigns, but relieved Steve Evans of his duties after the final match.

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The Manager

New manager Garry Monk is starting his third year as a professional manager and Leeds will be only the second club to give him the top job, after he left Swansea City last season. The 37-year-old saved his former club from relegation and got them to the Round of 32 in the Europa League when he took over from Michael Laudrup in 2014. The following year he led his side to league doubles over both Arsenal and Manchester United as they finished eighth and Monk was awarded a new contract. Last season, after a run of one win in 11 games, he left Swansea after spending more than 12 years of his career with the Welsh club.

As a player he began his career with Torquay United before moving on to Southampton in 1996. He had spells with Stockport County, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday on loan and eventually joined Barnsley on a permanent deal. The centre-back made just three appearances for The Tykes and left on a free at the end of the campaign. He joined League Two side Swansea City in 2004 and went on to play in every division for them until they reached the top flight in 2011, making the majority of his later appearances as captain.

The First Meeting

30 November 1935, Football League Division One - Brentford 2 Leeds United 2 Brentford XI: Mathieson; Ashley, Poyser, McKenzie, James, Richards, Hopkins, Robson, McCulloch, Scott, Fletcher Brentford's first season in England's top division continues with a much changed side for our first encounter with Leeds. Ends in a 2-2 draw despite Billy Scott and David McCulloch handing the Bees an early two-goal lead.

The Last Meeting

26 January 2016, Sky Bet Championship - Brentford 1 Leeds United 1 Brentford XI: Button; Colin, Dean, Barbet, Bidwell; Woods, McEachran; Saunders, Judge, Swift; Vibe Sam Saunders bursts forward from midfield to smash in the opener, only for Leeds to rescue a point in the last few minutes via substitute Mustapha Carayol.

Head to Head

Brentford wins: 9 Draws: 12 Leeds wins: 11