Leeds United travel to Old Trafford tomorrow with the spectre of a poor set-piece record looming over their heads.
The team have conceded 12 times from set-plays already this year, which is a troubling statistic given that accounts for half of the goals they have allowed.
Leeds' latest faux-pas at corners and free-kicks came against Newcastle United in midweek, with Ciaran Clark rising highest above a crowd of bodies to equalise for the Magpies.
Of the last six goals to have been conceded by Marcelo Bielsa's side, four have been set-plays.
However, Manchester United are also rather shaky in this department, themselves conceding nine times from dead-ball scenarios. Broken down into individual situations, the stat looks less intimidating too.
Both teams have conceded four penalties, which accounts for a large proportion of goals conceded from set-pieces.
From corners, Leeds have let in five which is two more than Manchester United's three. However, from free-kicks Leeds and Manchester have conceded three times and twice respectively.
It goes to show that comparisons are there between the two clubs' defensive records, and that Leeds' current spell is perhaps being blown out of proportion.
Marcelo Bielsa said prior to the midweek win over Newcastle United, that Leeds' woeful set-piece record was accentuated because they had conceded a number in quick succession.
This was only exacerbated by the fact that first-choice central defenders Robin Koch and Diego Llorente are absent through injury, meaning that pundits and onlookers tend to draw loose conclusions about why Leeds have conceded from such situations.
"This negative cycle that we’re going through is similar to half of the other teams in the Premier League who have gone through a similar cycle," Bielsa said prior to the Newcastle game.
"The circumstances which highlight this problem is that it happened in two consecutive games [Chelsea and West Ham]."
Manchester United also have individual errors to be concerned about heading into this weekend's fixture. An alarming statistic revealed just how regularly the Red Devils had shot themselves in the foot since the beginning of last season.
Their latest mistake came in the form of Dean Henderson taking too much time on the ball, allowing Sheffield United's Oliver Burke to dispossess him inside his own six-yard box.
It raises question marks over whether the former Blades goalkeeper will keep his place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI for the derby this weekend.
Henderson is a boyhood Manchester United supporter and will be desperate to feature in this fixture, despite having been linked with Leeds United in recent months.
