As we approach the end of the season, Leeds United is in the midst of a four-way race for automatic promotion.
It appears that Leeds United will have a difficult season finale as they attempt to return to the Premier League immediately.
The Whites are currently in third place, outside of the promotion positions available at the end of the campaign. Leicester City lead the standings by 12 points above Daniel Farke’s side, although Leeds and Southampton are only separated by one point in second place.
Ipswich Town are only one point behind Leeds in the league. As the games go, it appears that the top two spots will be contested by four different horses.
To add to the drama, Leeds will play Southampton at Elland Road in their final game of the season. It remains to be seen whether that game will have a significant impact on the final table outcome.
Leeds’ primary objective at this time will be to continue picking up points in order to maintain pressure on the top two. While Leicester’s margin is not insurmountable, the focus will be on the second automatic position.
Much has been made about Farke’s offensive abilities this season. Leeds have scored 52 goals this season, ranking fourth in the Championship; nevertheless, the three teams above of them in that league are Leicester, Southampton, and Ipswich.
Crysencio Summerville is one of the league’s best scorers this season, with 12 goals in total. Dan James isn’t far behind with 10 goals, and Leeds also has players like Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe who can score.
But the opposite end of the pitch may be Leeds’ secret weapon from now until the conclusion of the season. The club was chastised for its defensive flaws in the Premier League previous season.
This time around, the focus has been on the offensive side, but Leeds have quietly improved their defence. They are really second only to West Bromwich Albion in the clean sheet table, having kept opposition scoreless 12 times this season, one ahead of leaders Leicester City with 11, and crucially ahead of both Southampton and Ipswich with nine.
Leeds have only conceded one league goal in 2024, in a 2-1 win over Preston North End. It’s a pattern they hope to continue when they return to Championship play on Saturday against bottom-place Rotherham United.
While scoring goals is an important aspect in determining who receives promotion at the conclusion of the season, keeping them out is also critical to finishing as high feasible. Leeds’ defence might be the difference at the end of the season.
