Leeds needed to beat Saturday afternoon’s visitors Swansea City to reclaim top spot after Sheffield United moved into pole position with Friday night’s 3-1 win at home to Coventry City. Victory for the Blades sent them three points clear of Daniel Farke’s Whites who then had Saturday’s visit of the Swans acting as a game in hand.
Leeds put themselves on course for victory after Brenden Aaronson netted after just 35 seconds yet the contest ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw after Swansea equalised twice, latterly in the 96th minute. The draw left Leeds second and two points behind Sheffield United with just seven games left and also clinging onto the division’s second automatic promotion place on goal difference after another victory for third-placed Burnley.
Scott Parker’s Clarets recorded a 1-0 win from Saturday afternoon’s hosting of Bristol City which saw them join the Whites on 81 points. There was also another win for fourth-placed Sunderland who are now just nine points behind Leeds and Burnley in a clear breakaway four.
The picture has changed and so too has the verdict on Leeds from the bookies. Here, in reverse order, is their new predicted final Championship table, using odds for relegation to determine sides expected to end up in the bottom half.
20. 5th: Coventry City (play-offs)
Promotion odds: 6-1 (out from 11-2). Photo: Bradley Collyer
21. 4th: Sunderland (play-offs)
Title odds: 750-1 (unchanged). Automatic promotion odds: 250-1 (out from 150-1). Promotion odds: 2-1 (out from 15-8). Photo: Bradley Collyer
22. 3rd: Burnley (play-offs)
Title odds: 5-1 (in from 15-2). Automatic promotion odds: Evens (in from 6-5). Promotion odds: 8-15 (in from 4-7). Photo: Alex Livesey
23. 2nd: Sheffield United (automatic promotion as runners-up)
Title odds: 15-8 (in from 4-1). Automatic promotion odds: 8-13 (but now as short as 4-11 with some firms). Promotion odds: 3-10 (in from 4-9). Photo: George Wood
24. 1st: Leeds United (promoted as champions)
Title odds: 10-11 (out from 2-5 but still odds-on favourites and still as short as 4-5 with some firms). Automatic promotion odds: 2-7 (unchanged and still as short as 1-33 with some firms but in from 1-100). Promotion odds: 1-4 (halved from 1-8 but still as short as 1-80 with some firms). Photo: Martin Rickett