Sheffield United moved about Leeds United into first place in the Championship ahead of the Whites’ clash with Luton Town.
However, despite the Blades’ 3-0 win over Oxford United, manager Chris Wilder was not afraid to share his discontent in his post-match press conference.
This season’s promotion race is looking as tight as it has been for a few years now with just two points separating the top four ahead of last night’s matches, and Middlesbrough not much further back either.
Leeds can move back into first place with any margin of victory against Luton, while avoiding defeat would also see them climb into the top two.
Pundit Sam Parkin has predicted Leeds to get the job done, but Luton certainly won’t make it easy if they are at their best.
Wilder makes complaint about Championship race
With three games in six days for Leeds this week, Daniel Farke has hinted he could make changes to his starting XI from the one that defeated Swansea City.
Another short turnaround to Saturday’s 1.30pm kick-off at Blackburn Rovers follows after Leeds‘ game tonight, and so rotation will be important to keep things fresh.
Speaking after to the Sheffield Star after the Blades’ 3-0 win over Oxford last night, Wilder expressed his discontent at the schedule his side and a handful of others are facing.
With Sheffield United set to host promotion rivals Sunderland on Friday night, they are one of just four sides having to deal with the prospect of three games in six days. Leeds and Swansea are, of course, the other two.
Though Wilder says he understands why his side’s clash with Sunderland has been moved for TV, he brandished the tight turnaround between matches as ‘ridiculous’.
He said: “The turnaround of games is ridiculous. And I do understand it, the teams that people want to see or are in and around the top four or five will be the ones who gets showcased but we’re coming off a Saturday, to a Tuesday, to a Friday night yet again.
“I look at everyone else’s fixtures and there’s only maybe another one or two who have the turnaround we have to deal with. It’s not ideal, not ideal for Sunderland and not ideal for us but we’ll deal with it.”
What Daniel Farke said about Leeds’ three games in six days
In fairness to Wilder, he certainly isn’t the first, and certainly won’t be the last Championship manager to complain about the schedule this season.
In fact, Leeds boss Farke has already done the same. Incidentally, his complaint actually came before the meeting with Sheffield United, which was played on a Friday after the international break.
And heading into the clash with Luton with injury, Farke made it known that rotation is possible due to having to play three games in six days.
He said: “It seems like there are no new injuries. Obviously after a game like always, a few knocks and hits, but no new injuries. All the players who are with us seem to be also available for Wednesday.
“For that obviously quick turnaround, also the weekend, three games in six days, as I mentioned before, during such a week sometimes you have to rotate a bit more than you perhaps normally do, so there could also be a few changes.
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