Don Goodman expects Daniel Farke and Leeds United to win one of the two automatic promotion berths against Ipswich and Leicester.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Don Goodman preferred Leeds United for promotion because of their outstanding form and high-quality roster, which included Bamford and Ruitter.
- Ipswich, Leeds, and Leicester are in a thrilling Championship promotion race, competing for two automatic promotion positions.
- Don Goodman is optimistic in Leeds’ potential to secure a Premier League spot, despite increased competition and shifting league dynamics.
Don Goodman, a Sky Sports pundit and commentator, is backing Leeds United for promotion this season and confesses he will be “gutted” if either Leicester City or Ipswich Town lose out by placing third in the Championship.
The race for promotion has been intriguing for the neutral this season, and we are now in the final five weeks of the run-in, with three sides still competing for two spaces in the automatic promotion places, with Ipswich presently leading their competitors.
The standard being set at the top of the league is at an all-time high in this season’s second tier, particularly by Leeds and Ipswich, who have been absolutely savage in terms of form and pursuit of Leicester.
Daniel Farke’s side has already won 13 of 15 league games in 2024, including nine consecutive league wins at one point, following a difficult time during the festive season in which they won only once in five games. Draws against Huddersfield Town and Watford are the only blemishes on their near-perfect record since the turn of the year.
Ipswich had a rough end to 2023 and start to 2024, but they have won nine and lost one league game since a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in early February. They have been unwavering in their pursuit of top-flight football, despite the financial discrepancy between themselves and the recently demoted parachute payout clubs.
Ipswich emerged from Easter weekend in the greatest form, having secured six points, three of which came against Southampton, while Leeds hosted play-off chasing Hull, all before Leicester faced another promotion contender, Norwich City, at noon.
All of the top three in the second tier won on Monday, after Leeds and Leicester failed to match Ipswich’s victory on Friday, therefore ending Southampton’s chances and making it a three-horse race.
Don Goodman’s Leeds United promotion claims
There will undoubtedly be many more twists and turns before the season ends, and second place may easily change hands several times between the three clubs competing for a guaranteed place in the Premier League.
The topic of who will win the big prize will almost probably come up several times between now and the end of the season, and it might all come down to the wire and the final game for each club.
However, Don Goodman is convinced Leeds will secure one of the two automatic promotion berths. Speaking to Football League World, he said: “Yes, I still believe they will win promotion.
“They have a manager who has been there, done that, but their front line is absurd. Farke has Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, Georginio Ruitter, Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph, and Jaidon Anthony on his roster.
“When you combine it with a watertight and rock-solid defensive unit led by Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu, you have to be favourites to win the game.
“I’ll be disappointed for the team that comes third, and I’m already disappointed for Southampton because they’ve had a fantastic season.
“But I cannot see Leeds United finishing outside the top two.”
The race for promotion to the premier league
It’s difficult to overlook Leeds’ efforts in 2024 thus far, with Farke’s side striking form at the right time to overcome a 17-point deficit against Leicester at one point.
Leicester must be concerned about how powerful Ipswich have been recently, especially given that the Foxes appeared to have clinched top place not long ago.
Any missed points from here on out might be season-defining and extremely costly for any of the teams involved, with record-breaking point totals for second and third virtually certainly set.
