Don Goodman makes Championship play-off prediction that will worry Leeds United fans

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The international break has allowed Leeds United players, fans and Daniel Farke himself to take a breather amid the red-hot cauldron of pressure that comes with fighting for automatic promotion.

There is an expectancy and a make-or-break attitude among Leeds fans that the club simply have to get promoted this season. That, or it will be a number of years before Leeds find themselves back at the top.

Parachute payments are more than halved in the third year post relegation, while next season’s league look incredibly hard with Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town all likely to be relegated.

Leeds remain top on goal difference and are two points ahead of Burnley, though Sheffield United and Scott Parker’s side are in better form. It is just one win in four for Leeds and Don Goodman is worried.

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Don Goodman in worrying play-off claim for Leeds and rivals

With one of Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley set to miss out in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, Goodman is concerned for the side that fails to achieve a top-two position.

Goodman told Sky Sports’ EFL Essential podcast that he believes the team that finished third out of the top three will fail to win the play-offs. Something that happened to Leeds last season, after finishing third.

“When you look at Leeds and what happened last season, 90 points but losing the play-offs, honestly there’s a little part of me that thinks the team that misses out won’t get promoted through the play-offs.

“The disappointment will be overwhelming. For these three teams, the one that misses out I would be worried for in the play-offs,” Goodman said this week, in a verdict that will leave Leeds fans concerned.

What Don Goodman said earlier this week about Leeds United

His comments come after discussing Leeds’ chances of promotion to the Premier League with a different outlet. Goodman told FLW that he thinks Leeds do have enough to hold onto a top-two position.

There are two factors playing into Leeds’ hands. The first is that Burnley and Sheffield United have to play against each other in the third-last round of games, meaning one or both sides will drop some points.

The average league position of Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United’s remaining eight opponents:

The second is that as the table shows above, Leeds have the easier run-in. The average position of their remaining eight opponents is 15th, while it the average is higher for both Sheffield United and Burnley.

Next up for Leeds is a game they really should be winning given their home form and Swansea’s poor form throughout. Leeds beat Swansea 4-3 away, and they have since changed their manager as well.