Saturday afternoon saw Leeds United drop more points in the race for automatic promotion as Sheffield United and Burnley took advantage with wins over Coventry City and Bristol City.
Leeds had a real chance going into the weekend. Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United faced Frank Lampard’s in-form Coventry while Scott Parker’s men hosted play-off chasing Bristol City at Turf Moor on Saturday.
On paper, Leeds actually had the easiest of the three games and yet, both Sheffield United and Burnley won while securing clean sheets and Leeds were unable to get past Swansea, Illan Meslier to blame.
Mike Grella says Leeds fans are their own worst enemy with the expectation placed on the club, having been on the books at Elland Road for three years. Daniel Farke’s side are under pressure with seven left.
Predicting Leeds United’s next three games ahead of busy period
Next up for Leeds is a trip to Luton Town. Looking at the table, it should be an easy win at Kenilworth Road but it’s far from that. Away at an intimidating ground, pressure on and it is a lunchtime kick-off.
Luton is the first of five games in 16 days with a busy period incoming. Perhaps that will help Leeds as they look to block the noise and get their promotion chase back on track, after just one win in five.
Below, we predict Leeds United’s next three games – starting with Luton and then an away game at Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough and then Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston at Elland Road on the 12th.
Luton 1-2 Leeds: Luton have three wins in their last five, but wins have come against fellow strugglers Hull, Portsmouth and Cardiff. Burnley beat Luton 4-0 this month and Leeds should have enough.
Middlesbrough 2-2 Leeds: Boro have improved with four wins from six, after a run of seven losses in eight. Carrick’s men have beaten Leeds this season, and it will be a topsy-turvy clash at The Riverside.
Leeds 2-0 Preston: Preston’s season finished on Sunday when they were knocked out of The FA Cup. Sitting in 14th, they are safe without having anything to play for and Leeds should take advantage.
Predicting Burnley and Sheffield United’s next three games
So, LeedsUnited.News think Leeds will clock up seven points from their next three games – improving on what Leeds have managed in the last five. But how does that compare to Sheffield United and Burnley?
Sheffield United have a an easy-ish run in their next three even if two of those three are away, like Leeds. Oxford away next, Millwall at home and then Plymouth away while Burnley have a tougher row of games.
Coventry away on Saturday is a big game for The Clarets, before going to an improving Derby and then hosting Norwich. Below, we predict their next three results and compare it to Leeds’ next three games.
| Sheffield United’s next three games | Leeds’ next three games | Burnley’s next three games |
| April 5 Oxford United (A) Prediction: 2-0 Win | April 5 Luton (A) Prediction: 2-1 Win | April 5 Coventry (A) Prediction: 1-1 Draw |
| April 8 Millwall (H) Prediction: 2-1 Win | April 8 Middlesbrough (A) Prediction: 2-2 Draw | April 8 Preston (A) Prediction: 1-1 Draw |
| April 12 Plymouth (A) Prediction: 3-0 Win | April 12 Preston (H) Prediction: 2-0 Win | April 11 Norwich (H) Prediction: 2-0 Win |
| Total points: 9 | Total points: 7 | Total points: 5 |
Should those predictions ring true, Sheffield United will go four clear but Leeds will re-establish a two-point lead over Leeds. There is no doubt that Burnley face the toughest run over the next three matches.
It must be remembered that the third-last round of fixtures will see Sheffield United and Burnley do battle themselves. At least one of the two, if not both if the game is drawn, will drop more points.
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