Fresh boost in Leeds United promotion bid expected as big obstacles emerge for key rivals

Leeds United are expected to get a welcome boost in the club’s promotion quest upon a new big chance for Daniel Farke’s Whites.

Farke’s side have slipped out of the Championship’s automatic promotion places and down to third following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers coupled with weekend wins for both Sheffield United and Burnley.

Leeds are now three points behind the table-topping Blades and a point behind second-placed Burnley who will now have the chance to move four points ahead of Leeds by playing next on Friday night.

The Clarets, though, face a tough fixture at home to Middlesbrough for which Scott Parker’s side are favourites but not strong ones with the bookmakers. Burnley are as short as 5-4 for the contest with some firms but as big as 7-5 with others and Boro are no bigger than 11-5. Michael Carrick’s side are also 13-20 to bag a point or one.

But regardless of how Burnley fare, Leeds would definitely move back into the division’s automatic promotion spots with victory from their weekend hosting of Derby County due to Sheffield United playing on Sunday afternoon.

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Derby have tasted victory in just one of their last nine games and the bookmakers are very confident that Leeds will bounce back from their Blackburn defeat with a three-point haul.

Leeds are very strong odds-on favourites for the contest in being no bigger than 2-5 but as short as 3-10 with some firms. The Rams can be backed at 9-1 and even the draw is available at 4s.

Furthermore, the bookies then think Sheffield United will drop points to some degree from their tough Sunday afternoon fixture at West Brom who are favourites to beat the Blades at The Hawthorns.

Carlos Corberan’s Baggies are a best priced 13-8 whereas Chris Wilder’s visitors can be backed at marginally bigger at 15-8. The draw is on offer at 12-5 and the Baggies are short at 4-9 to take either three points or one.

In the eyes of the bookies at least, that all points to every chance of Leeds ending the weekend back in the automatic promotion spots - if not in pole position.