Leeds United’s defeat to Portsmouth means Sheffield United are now level on points with Daniel Farke’s side and Chris Wilder has responded in a press conference on Monday.
Leeds went into Sunday’s game after Sheffield United and Burnley both picked up wins against Preston and Luton on Saturday. In the Paul Heckingbottom derby, the Blades came out as narrow 1-0 winners.
It meant Leeds had to win to re-assert their three-point dominance but not only did Leeds fail to win, but The Whites also lost their 17-game unbeaten run. Joey Barton thinks the promotion race is wide open.
Luckily for Leeds, there is a midweek game that allows Daniel Farke’s side to bounce back straight away although it comes in the form of a tough clash against a side Leeds have lost to twice this term – Millwall.
Chris Wilder responds to Leeds United’s defeat to Portsmouth
Typically, Leeds could actually be three points behind Sheffield United by the time they take to the pitch again with The Blades playing host to Bristol City at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night, ahead of Leeds.
Sheffield United have a real chance to pile the pressure on Leeds if they hadn’t already and in Monday’s press conference he underlined the unpredictability of the Championship when asked about the game.
“I was out”, Wilder said. “This is gonna be how it is right the way through. We’re not taking the eye off our job. Old enough and experienced enough to know we have to work extremely hard for every result.
“There’s no gimmies, there’s no easy games, there’s no ‘they’ll turn them over, that’s three points’. This is the unpredictability of the Championship. Whatever results you chuck at me, I’ll have the same approach.
“We have to concentrate 100% on ourselves, getting the job done and as many points as we possibly can. If it’s enough, fabulous and if not then we address a new situation,” Wilder told his press conference.
How many more points do Leeds need to secure promotion?
Last season saw Leicester and Ipswich accumulate 96 and 97 points and that was a higher bar than most seasons. Leeds got 90 points in third and became the first team to not be promoted with such a tally.
Leeds need 14 more points from the next 10 games to reach the 90-point mark. They might need a few more but if Leeds win five of the next 10 and draw perhaps two or three others, it would be enough.
This season, the stats show that anything above 93 will almost certainly decide automatic promotion. There will be twists and turns but the best thing Leeds can do is bounce back and beat Millwall.
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