According to Simon Jordan and Martin O’Neill, Leeds United may struggle to achieve promotion through the playoffs this season if they do not receive automatic promotion.
With a playoff spot now appearing more possible than automatic promotion, Jordan said it will be “fascinating” to observe how teams in the competition deal with their mixed results.
While nothing is finalized, Leeds’ 4-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers has opened the door for Ipswich to capitalize, with the club’s future no longer in their control.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [29 April, 11:45], Jordan explained: “What would be fascinating if Leeds lose out is that none of the teams in the playoffs have any momentum.
“Sheffield Wednesday have just smashed West Brom, Southampton have suddenly lost their way, and Leeds have fallen on their own swords, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.” The only one that holds water is Norwich.”
O’Neill then commented: “A month ago, Leeds United were considering automatic promotion. They were on fire, seemed to be capable of scoring at any time. But now they might miss out.
“If you are so close but miss out, you go into the playoffs on a bit of a downer so you have to get your minds set and go again.”
Leeds United’s promotion precision surfaces amid playoff claims.
Given Leeds’ present position in the Championship table, second, talk of the playoffs may be a little premature in a season where anything can happen and all clubs are suffering fluctuating form.
However, they no longer have control over their fate. If Ipswich wins their game in hand, they would move three points ahead of Leeds in the table, meaning they only need to match their opponents’ result on the last day to be promoted.
This would sentence Leeds to the playoffs, where they have always struggled, lending credence to Jordan and O’Neill’s allegations that Daniel Farke’s team will fail to achieve promotion this season.
If Leeds make the playoffs, their most likely opponents will be West Brom or Norwich, who will enter the playoffs full of confidence against a team that, as Jordan and O’Neill both admitted, has slipped off at the worst possible time.
