At the top of the Championship, Leeds United, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town are all under pressure.
In these final four games of the season, it looks like it will be a three-horse competition for the top two, even if Southampton still has a remote chance of earning automatic promotion.
The Championship season’s last midweek schedule saw all three teams play very winnable games: Leicester traveled to Millwall, Ipswich hosted Watford, and Leeds took on Sunderland.
They all lost, though, as the Foxes lost to a relegation-threatened team while Leeds and Ipswich were held to 0-0 draws at home by mid-table opponents, clearly showing that nerves got the better of them.
Leicester and Ipswich lead the table with 88 points going into the weekend, although Leeds is only one point behind in third.
Deeney explains why Ipswich will advance this season despite Leeds.
Although it appears impossible to predict who will cross the finish line given the three teams’ current condition, former Premier League striker Troy Deeney made an attempt to do so today on Sky Sports News.
After hosting Middlesbrough on Saturday, Ipswich will go to Hull and Coventry City, possibly the toughest remaining stretch, while Leeds and Leicester still have to play Southampton.
Leeds has won every league game they have played at Elland Road this year, but it is evident that the players were impacted by the crowd’s anxiety during their midweek meeting against Sunderland.
Deeney thinks Ipswich will surpass Leeds to take second place behind Leicester because of this, putting “all the pressure” on the Whites in the final stretch.
“I’m going to go with Ipswich,” he declared. Leeds is going to approach you in a certain manner, which explains why. The Leeds audience is counting on you to come out on top and win. I’ve had the good fortune to perform there frequently and achieve respectable outcomes.
“With or without the ball, all the pressure is on them if you sit in and strike them on the counterattack. Ipswich is one of the few teams—especially at the top—that can beat you, play football, and accomplish any other goal you choose.
“They have enough characteristics and enough off the bench. They’re riding high on a wave because everyone on the team, the supporters, and the new board have bought into the club’s philosophy. They also have a style of play and ambitions.
Leeds’ performance against that of Ipswich and Leicester
Leeds hosts Blackburn Rovers on Saturday to begin the first of their final four games at home. In light of Rovers’ recent difficulties, a victory would suffice.
Then, Daniel Farke’s team travels to Middlesbrough and QPR for back-to-back away games. It will be interesting to see if either team has anything to gain by that point. Naturally, the final game is a home match against Southampton.
Hull City vs. Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship
As previously said, Ipswich has three play-off-chasing teams in Boro (H), Hull City (A), and Coventry City (A), which may make for the toughest run-in. Against the former, Leeds will be hoping that loanees Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood can do them a favor. They conclude the campaign with a match against a Huddersfield Town team that is barely hanging on.
Leicester, on the other hand, has a game in hand over Ipswich and Leeds, but their upcoming matchup against Southampton could not be more difficult.
In addition, Blackburn and West Brom will go to the East Midlands; the remaining away games are against Preston North End and Plymouth Argyle.
