The pressure is on Sheffield United and Sunderland in the Championship promotion race this weekend after Leeds United moved five points clear at the top of the table in midweek.
Two goals in ten first-half minutes from Joel Piroe and then Jayden Bogle put the Whites on course to a comfortable victory over Coventry City. That success restored their five-point lead atop the table after Burnley had cut it to two following their 1-0 win at home to Oxford United some 24 hours earlier.
After passing that test, Daniel Farke’s side face second-tier opposition again in Millwall on Saturday lunchtime. However, that is their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Elland Road rather than the reverse fixture against the Lions, which is next month.
Burnley are another of the nine Championship clubs still in the cup and will travel to Southampton this weekend. The Blades and Black Cats are not, though, after exiting the competition in the third round last month after defeats to Cardiff City and Stoke City, respectively.
They will, however, still be in action on Saturday as they fulfil their game in hand on the Whites and the Clarets. Both Sunderland and Sheffield United are at home, with Regis Le Bris’ side taking on Watford in the early kick-off at the Stadium of Light, while Chris Wilder’s Blades host Portsmouth at Bramall Lane in a 3pm kick-off.
Sheffield United start the weekend in third but can cut the gap to Leeds at the summit to two points with a win and move above Burnley who currently occupy second place, with a draw also enough to finish the weekend in second.
However, the pressure will be on in the Steel City, especially if the Black Cats beat Watford in the early kick-off to move level on points with them and the Clarets. Leeds have the advantage knowing their rivals could slip up this weekend ahead of an upcoming title clash.
Leeds travel to the Blades in midweek and could move eight points clear of their Yorkshire rivals if results go their way this weekend.
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