A major Leeds United boost is expected in the club’s drive for automatic promotion – but with a nasty Whites twist.
Daniel Farke’s Whites moved back into the Championship’s second automatic promotion slot with Monday night’s exciting 4-3 triumph at Middlesbrough and another away day now rapidly presents itself in Friday night’s meeting at Queens Park Rangers.
With third-placed Ipswich Town not playing until Saturday night, Leeds know that a victory would send them four points clear in the automatics and pile the pressure on the Tractor Boys to take six points from their two games in hand at Hull City on Saturday evening and at Coventry City on Tuesday night.
Following Monday night’s success at Boro, the bookmakers significantly favour the Whites to win again at QPR, giving them a massive boost by moving four points ahead of Ipswich. Farke’s team is the clear favourite, with odds of no more than 1-2 and as low as 2-5 with certain firms. QPR, on the other hand, can be backed at 11-2, with the draw priced at 15-4, little shy of 4-1.
Victory at Loftus Road may put Leeds on the verge of promotion if Ipswich fall up, but bookmakers anticipate Kieran McKenna’s team to offer a cruel Whites twist by winning at Hull the next night. Following Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry City, Hull is seventh in the Championship league and only three points behind the play-offs.
The Tigers need a win to keep their hopes of finishing in the top six alive, but Ipswich remain strong favourites despite being away from home. Given the nature of the match, Ipswich are as short as evens with some bookmakers to win at Hull and no longer than 23-20 odds.
However, a draw would be enough to reclaim United’s automatic promotion fate with only one game remaining if Farke’s side wins against QPR. The draw is rated an 11-4 chance, somewhat higher than a Hull victory at 12-5. The combined chances of Hull winning or drawing are 3-4.
Leaders Leicester City are on the verge of securing automatic promotion after a 5-0 thrashing of fourth-placed Southampton on Tuesday night, and bookmakers predict Enzo Maresca’s team to be back in the Premier League by Monday night at the latest.
The Foxes face Preston North End at Deepdale on Monday at 8 p.m., with Maresca’s team 1-2 favourites against a Preston side ranked sixth. Even a draw could be enough for Leicester, depending on other results, and the draw is available at 18-5.
Southampton are currently 500-1 to win automatic promotion after a crushing defeat against Leicester. Russell Martin’s Saints face Stoke City at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, with Southampton 4-5 favourites. The draw is 17-5, with a Stoke win attainable at 3s.
Leeds lead Ipswich in the betting for a top-two finish. Farke’s Whites are at 8-11 for automatic promotion, while Ipswich are 11-10. Leicester are considered home and hosed on 1-66.
