With 15 games to go, it is beginning to feel like crunch time for Leeds United. Top of the table, ahead by two points but the shadow of last season’s failure lingers.
Leeds were right in the mix for automatic promotion before a run of two wins in the final eight games saw Leeds forced to fight it out in the play-offs and eventually lose to Southampton at Wembley last May.
This time around, Leeds are hell-bent on securing an automatic promotion spot to avoid the jeopardy of the play-offs. But with 15 games to go, how many points do Leeds need to win automatic promotion?
Adam Pope says how many wins Leeds need in next 15 games
The 90-point mark is just 24 points away. Leeds became the only Championship side to clock up 90 points and fail to be promoted, with that magical mark normally enough to see a club finish in the top two.
Leeds didn’t manage it with last season largely an anomaly. This time around, 90 points might be enough. Pope told the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast he thinks eight wins, or 24 points, will see Leeds go up.
“Eight wins, and it’s done. But seven wins and three draws does it. With 15 to go, they’re still allowing for five defeats – double the amount of league defeats already. It allows a little bit of Leedsy-ness in there.”
How many points did Leeds win under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019-20?
Five years after Leeds were last promoted from the Championship, Farke is looking to secure promotion and a Championship title would be the third on his CV. Under Bielsa in 2019-20, Leeds won 93 points.
The Argentine guided Leeds to an incredible run of form in the run-in. After 31 games in that season, Leeds only had 55 points – 11 less than now. Leeds are in an excellent position going into the final third.
Pope is probably right in that eight wins gets Leeds over the line but just to be sure, Farke will want to not only win more than 24 points over the course of the next 15 games – but get it done as soon as possible.
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