Leeds United’s defeat to Portsmouth has left the top three separated by just two points going into the final 10 games of the Championship season, and a busy week ahead of the March break.
Sunday’s trip to Fratton Park was the first of three games in six days for Leeds United with The Whites also in action against Millwall at Elland Road on Wednesday night, before going to Loftus Road to face QPR.
With a run of 17 games unbeaten behind them, Leeds had been expected to come away with a win at Portsmouth. But, Pompey have been solid at home under John Mousinho and they secured a 1-0 victory.
Colby Bishop’s second-half dink proved to be the only goal of the game, somehow. Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo were both guilty of missing sitters while Dan James, Manor Solomon and Sam Byram came close.
Leeds United remain top but Joey Barton thinks it is ‘wide open’
With Sheffield United, Burnley and fourth-placed Sunderland all securing wins on Saturday, it goes down as a potentially game-changing weekend for all involved with Leeds’ lead completely diminished.
The Whites are now level on points with Sheffield United and only two in front of third-placed Burnley, who dismantled Luton Town on Saturday to win 4-0 at Turf Moor. Joey Barton had his say on X.
He posted: “Cracking game in the Champ. Pompey and Leeds. Big win for Pompey. Great job done by John Mousinho. Just blown the title race wide open. Come on Burnley. UTC [Up The Clarets].”
If reverse fixtures are mirrored, would Leeds be promoted?
So, there are 10 games to go and Leeds still find themselves top but with the threat of being overtaken and the constant worry of an implosion, such as last season which resulted in play-off final defeat.
But if each of the top three’s 10 games are mirrored, how many points will Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley obtain between now and the end of the season – and where would that leave each of the three?
If reverse fixtures were mirrored in last 10 games:
| Leeds | Sheffield United | Burnley | Sunderland |
| Points from next 10: 23 | Points from next 10: 25 | Points from next 10: 20 | Points from next 10: 16 |
| Total points: 99 | Total points: 101 | Total points: 94 | Total points: 84 |
| Position in table: 2nd | Position in table: 1st | Position in table: Third | Position in table: Fourth |
If each side produce the same result they did in the reverse fixture against their remaining 10 opponents, then it would see Sheffield United go up as champions and Leeds secure automatic promotion as second.
But Daniel Farke will want more than that even if most Leeds fans would probably accept that. He will want a third Championship title on his CV and will go hell for leather in the final 10 games to secure that.
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