Leeds United are fourth in the Championship right now, seven points behind the automatic promotion pace.
The fight for automatic promotion is heating up, with a handful of clubs, notably Leeds United, vying for a berth in the Championship’s top two. Leicester City are the clear leaders in the second tier, and with 65 points, 10 points ahead of third, it would take something drastic for them to miss out on promotion.
A struggle is raging behind the Foxes, with Leeds, Ipswich Town, and Southampton vying for the second automatic promotion slot. Ipswich currently leads the way after their outstanding performance this season, while Southampton is three points behind and Leeds is seven.
As a result, the following few months promise to be exciting as the three clubs try all out to gain automatic promotion to the top division and avoid the lottery of the playoffs. Of course, there are only three available places in English football’s top division for next season, so at least one of the aforementioned quartet will miss out.
Clinton Morrison, a Sky Sports Football League pundit, believes Leeds may be pipped to the top two, with Southampton joining Leicester in achieving automatic promotion.
“You would probably say Southampton and Leeds look the strongest,” he went on to remark. “These two teams have tremendous rosters.
“If I had to put my hat on anyone, I would have to say Southampton but it’s going to go right down to the wire with Leeds and Ipswich.”
If it comes down to the wire, as Morrison believes, Leeds’ final day fixture might be the deciding factor. Daniel Farke’s Whites face Southampton at Elland Road on May 4, in a game that promises to be intriguing even if there is nothing at stake, considering that both clubs were relegated from the top flight the previous season.
