Roller-coaster ride now has Leeds United at their shortest price all season for top-two finish

LEEDS UNITED are now the shortest price they have been all season to achieve automatic promotion.
IN THE CLEAR: Leeds United centre-back Ben White grabs goalscorer Luke Ayling to celebrate the defender's opening strike in Saturday's 4-0 romp at Hull City. Picture by Tony Johnson.IN THE CLEAR: Leeds United centre-back Ben White grabs goalscorer Luke Ayling to celebrate the defender's opening strike in Saturday's 4-0 romp at Hull City. Picture by Tony Johnson.
IN THE CLEAR: Leeds United centre-back Ben White grabs goalscorer Luke Ayling to celebrate the defender's opening strike in Saturday's 4-0 romp at Hull City. Picture by Tony Johnson.

On the back of Saturday's 4-0 romp at Hull City, the Whites are no bigger than 1-12 for a top-two finish and as big as 1-33 with some firms.

United are even shorter in the betting than they were after opening up an 11-point cushion in the automatic promotion spots on December 10 through their 2-0 success against the Tigers at Elland Road.

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After what was their seventh Championship win in succession in December, Marcelo Bielsa's men were no bigger than 1-10 and as short as 1-20 to finish in the top two.

That eleven-point advantage was soon whittled down to mere goal difference as United's price for automatic promotion crashed down to around the even money mark.

But four wins on the bounce and a return of 13 points from a last possible 15 has seen United open up a five-point cushion over third and the Whites are now rated even more likely than West Brom to achieve automatic promotion with some firms.

Despite still being one point ahead of Leeds, Slaven Bilic's Baggies are 1-14 to finish in the two with Paddy Power who have the Whites at an eye-wateringly short 1-33.

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Overall, West Brom are no bigger than 1-14 for automatic promotion and as short as 1-20.

Fulham, who are five points behind Leeds in third, are rated the clear dangers but the Cottagers can be backed at 17-2 to finish in the top two.

Fifth-placed Brentford who are 11 points behind Leeds are as big as 18-1 while fourth-placed Nottingham Forest can be backed at 25-1 ahead of tonight's clash at Middlesbrough.

Forest head to the Riverside nine points behind the Whites but with a game in hand so victory there will likely see their odds trimmed in what is now seen as a five-horse race for two spots.

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Sixth-placed Preston are 225-1 despite being just one point Brentford with Bristol City two points further back in seventh and 300s.

But despite Fulham still having a trip to Elland Road on the horizon giving the Cottagers a clear chance to close the gap to just two points, the race for the top two is almost a foregone conclusion according to the layers.

United's price has already once gone from 1-10 to evens but the bookies now think the Whites will bounce back in the ultimate style with United actually favourites to win the league and no bigger than 5-6 with the Baggies 13-10.

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