Big Leeds United promotion boost expected with guaranteed change in automatics picture

Daniel Farke’s Whites chipped away at the big gap to Championship leaders Leicester City by recording a 3-0 win at Saturday afternoon’s hosts Cardiff City after the Foxes had suffered a 3-1 defeat at Coventry City in the day’s lunchtime kick-off.

Defeat for Leicester and victory for Leeds cut the gap from 17 points down to 14 between the Whites and Foxes but the win at Cardiff also saw Leeds temporarily move just four points off the division’s automatic promotion spots as Southampton moved into second with a 4-0 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Ipswich Town then moved back above the Saints with a 2-1 triumph at home to Sunderland in the evening kick-off which has again left Leeds seven points off the division’s second automatic promotion place and four points behind third-placed Southampton in addition to still being 14 behind Leicester.

There is, though, guaranteed to be some sort of dropping of points in the top two or three next weekend due to second-placed Ipswich visiting leaders Leicester on Monday night, by which time the bookmakers firmly expect Leeds to be just four points behind the Tractor Boys and 11 adrift of the Foxes.

A Sunday lunchtime visit of 12th-placed Preston North End presents the next test for Farke’s Whites and Leeds are strong-odds on favourites to bag another three points in being no bigger than 2-7. Preston can be backed at a massive 14-1 to leave Elland Road with a victory and even the draw is as big as 5-1.

The oddsmakers also think there is a reasonable chance of Southampton dropping points in their Saturday lunchtime kick-off at 15th-placed Swansea City. Russell Martin’s Saints are odds-on but only just at 8-11 against a Swansea side who are 17-4. The draw is 31-10.

As far as Monday night’s top of the table clash is concerned, Leicester are hovering around the even money mark in being a best priced 10-11 favourites. Ipswich can be backed at 16-5 with the draw available at 14-5.