Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Leeds United, and Southampton appear to be locked in a struggle for automatic promotion over the next two and a half weeks.
Just a few days ago, it appeared to be a three-horse battle for the top two slots, but Southampton’s three wins in a row have pushed them back into contention.
In that time, Ipswich, Leicester, and Leeds have all made mistakes, leaving only five points separating the top four. The Foxes and Southampton also have a game in hand against each other next Tuesday.
Leicester defender Conor Coady believes the pressure has increased on all three top teams recently, despite earlier predicting that finishing second would require 100 points.
Now, it appears that the mid-to-early 1990s may be enough, though it remains to be seen whether any of the top three can regain their form.
Murphy discusses the club he wants to see promoted from the Championship.
Jobi McAnuff was among the pundits who predicted Leeds’ promotion this season, but that was before Saturday’s stunning first home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
It’s a race that’s almost impossible to anticipate, and you believe Leeds will need at least seven points to have a shot now.
While the loss to Blackburn was unexpected, Troy Deeney hinted last week that the strain could be too much for Leeds.
Hopefully, Leeds can prove Deeney incorrect between now and the beginning of May, and Danny Murphy, appearing on talkSPORT this morning, clearly wants that to happen.
Murphy, a former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder, was debating which of the four clubs he’d want to see promoted this season.
He stated: “If I had to pick one team to come up, it would be Leeds United. “Fabulous club.”
Compare the run-ins of Leeds, Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton.
Leeds and Ipswich now have only three games left this season, while Leicester and Southampton must face each other in their game in hand.
Leeds have a tiny advantage over Ipswich in that they play twice, at Middlesbrough and QPR, before the Tractor Boys return to action. Their next two games are at Hull and Coventry City.
As previously said, Leicester and Southampton will face one other next Tuesday, although they must first play West Brom (H) and Cardiff City (A). The former then go to Preston North End, while the latter host Stoke City.
The last day features a possibly historic meeting between Leeds and Southampton at Elland Road, while Ipswich and Leicester face relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers at home, respectively.
