The fight for automatic promotion from the Championship this season took another unexpected turn over the weekend, with all three clubs – Leeds United, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town – failing to win games.
Leicester’s 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Friday night gave Leeds the opportunity to take top of the table against Blackburn. Daniel Farke’s soldiers huffed and puffed but didn’t knock down Blackburn’s door.
Of course, Sammie Szmodics delivered, finishing well past Illan Meslier in the final ten minutes to win the game. A massive blow and another squandered opportunity for Leeds, who barely made it over the final hurdle.
Fortunately, Luke Ayling was on hand to provide his fifth assist for Middlesbrough since joining Michael Carrick’s side, saving a point in their match against Ipswich – or at least lowering Ipswich to one point.
Kieran McKenna speaks on the distinctions between Leeds and Ipswich.
The results put Leeds in third place in the Championship table with 87 points, Leicester a point ahead with 88 but having played one fewer game than Leeds and Ipswich, and the latter leading the way with 89 points.
Speaking after his team’s draw against Carrick’s in-form Boro, which also features Sam Greenwood, McKenna was described by the Evening Post as finding a difference between us and his Ipswich side.
“I do not know. We’re coming from very different places. If you asked me who is under more pressure, I’m quite sure everyone would say it’s not us, given where we’re coming from and how this bunch has done.
“I feel no pressure. I thought it was a great game in isolation. I cannot speak for the other challengers. I can see their thinking and atmosphere being a little different from ours.
Our last three games analyzed: Will Leeds get promoted?
With so few games to play, Leeds can no longer rely solely on their own results to advance without the play-offs. Up has three hard games coming up, beginning with a Monday night trip to Middlesbrough.
QPR has proven to be a difficult place to visit for Leeds this season, and this might be another example. Then comes the season’s final day, when we welcome Southampton to Elland Road. Absolutely enormous.
If Leeds want to finish in the top two, they will need to score as many points as possible in their remaining games. You can’t expect Ipswich and Leicester to keep making mistakes like this.
