‘Momentum’… EFL club chairman thinks Leicester may slip up and Leeds United could catch them

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Leeds United are the closest they have been all season to the automatic promotion places.

Following Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Norwich City – which saw them win their fourth league match in a row for the first time this season – Leeds moved to within two points of the top two.

Leeds currently sit in fourth place on 57 points, with Southampton on 58, Ipswich Town on 59 and Leicester City slightly ahead on 66. That said, Leeds have now played a game more.

Daniel Farke’s side had been as much as 17 points adrift of Leicester as recently as last month, but a drop in form has seen them close that gap somewhat. The two sides go head-to-head at Elland Road next month.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has weighed in with his prediction on the automatic promotion race in the latest episode of his ‘Hard Truth Podcast.’

He believes unless Leicester strengthen their squad this month, both Southampton and Leeds will catch them to finish in the top two, with the former winning the league.

MacAnthony backs Leeds and Southampton for top two

“I’ll go one further and say I think they [Southampton] are going to win the league. I think Leicester haven’t got a squad like Southampton. Leicester’s owners need to back their manager. I think they are struggling with losing players to injury and the player went back to Chelsea.

“I don’t think they are as dynamic as Southampton because they don’t have that squad strength. I think Southampton win the league and I don’t think Leeds will be far behind. I’m hoping Ipswich stay there because I have a few bob on Jack Taylor.

“But I just see Leeds and Southampton could end up going one and two. I do [think Leicester could drop out] if they don’t do a bit of business. I just think Southampton and Leeds have the momentum.”

It is still going to be incredibly difficult for Leeds to catch Leicester regardless of the run of form they go on, as there just aren’t enough sides in the division capable of taking points from them.

At the same time, Farke has been there and done it before as a manager in the Championship promotion race during the second half of the season, which could really stand Leeds in good stead.

If Leeds do continue this form, who knows what could happen, but at this stage, it very much appears as though it will take the highest points tally in many years to finish in the top two.