Bristol City have extra incentive to upset Fulham and provide Leeds United with chance to kick eight points clear

A FAVOUR from Lee Johnson at an Ashton Gate party could give Leeds United the chance to move seven or even eight points clear in the automatic promotion places.
ANNIVERSARY GAME: For Bristol City and boss Lee Johnson. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.ANNIVERSARY GAME: For Bristol City and boss Lee Johnson. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.
ANNIVERSARY GAME: For Bristol City and boss Lee Johnson. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.

Marcelo Bielsa's second-placed Whites have a five-point cushion in the division's automatics with ten games remaining and nine of those fixtures are against sides placed eighth or lower.

Third-placed Fulham, however, still have five remaining games against sides in the top seven - including a trip to Leeds - and also Saturday lunch-time's fixture at Bristol City which holds extra significance for the Robins.

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Formed in 1894 as as Bristol South End, the Robins have chosen to use Saturday's clash against Fulham to celebrate the club's 125th-year anniversary after passing the landmark last year.

Lee Johnson's side have picked up just one point from their last four games but remain very much in the promotion race in sitting two points off the play-offs.

City also won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in December's reverse league tie but Fulham have lost just one of their last ten in the league.

The Cottagers are consequently 23-20 favourites to win at Ashton Gate in the 12.30pm kick-off and a three-point haul would close the gap on Leeds to two points ahead of United's 3pm kick-off against Huddersfield Town.

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Yet if Scott Parker's side drop points, United will kick-off against Saturday's visitors Huddersfield Town at 3pm with a chance to move seven or even eight points clear in the event of a Fulham defeat.

And either way, the day could end with Leeds top of the division with leaders West Brom away at ninth-placed Swansea City in another 3pm kick-off and with the Swans only four points off the play-offs.

The Baggies - who are one point clear - will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's shock 1-0 loss at home to Wigan Athletic but Swansea have lost just one of their last five - drawing three - and Steve Cooper's side have lost just one of their last eight home games (to Derby County).

As far as the other teams closest to the automatic promotion spots are concerned, fourth-placed Nottingham Forest host tenth-placed Millwall on Friday night and victory for the Tricky Trees would take them ahead of Fulham on goal difference and also five points behind Leeds.

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Fifth-placed Brentford - who have now fallen 11 points behind Leeds - welcome 12th-placed Sheffield Wednesday for a Saturday 3pm kick-off while sixth-placed Preston North End who are one point behind the Bees host 14th-placed QPR in another Saturday 3pm game.

Really, though, it will be all eyes on Ashton Gate where for 90 minutes United's followers will be cheering on Lee Johnson's Robins.

Ones to watch for Leeds United

FRIDAY:

7.45pm: Nottingham Forest (4th) v Millwall (10th)

SATURDAY:

12.30pm: Bristol City (7th) v Fulham (3rd)

3pm: Swansea City (9th) v West Brom (1st)

3pm: Brentford (5th) v Sheffield Wednesday (12th)

3pm: Preston North End (6th) v QPR (14th)