Leeds United get new Championship promotion race twist ahead of Sheffield United clash
The latest Leeds United news before of their encounter against fellow promotion rivals Sheffield United at Bramall Lane as Burnley have increased the pressure on the Whites.
Leeds United currently have just a four-point margin between themselves and the Championship playoff places after Burnley triumphed 4-0 over Sheffield Wednesday.
After drawing 0-0 with Lancashire rivals Preston North End last weekend, Scott Parker’s side returned to winning ways in their final league fixture of the month.
New signing Marcus Edwards put the Clarets in front at Turf Moor on his full home debut minutes before half-time on Friday night.
Josh Brownhill extended their advantage immediately after the hour mark, and Conor Roberts added another eight minutes later.
Manuel Benson then came off the bench late on to score in the sixth minute of added-time – and with the last kick of the encounter with a magnificently-struck strike.
The loss merely intensifies the strain on Monday night’s trip to Bramall Lane for Daniel Farke ‘s team.
A win would take the Whites five points ahead atop the Championship standings and seven from Burnley.
Whereas defeat would drop them to second, one point behind the Blades, and would mean Parker’s side had also gained three points on them.
A draw keeps the two-point buffer but would mean the distance to the Clarets is narrowed from seven to five this weekend.
The ideal scenario of a Leeds win would enable them to expand their gap over Burnley to 10 points next weekend.
That is because the same day as West Bromwich Albion visit Elland Road, the Clarets meet Preston again, but this time at Deepdale in the FA Cup fifth round.
Parker’s charges do, nevertheless, play their game in hand the following midweek, visiting Cardiff City.
They then host Luton Town and West Brom before going to take on Swansea City in their final match ahead of the March international break.
Leeds, however, travel away to Portsmouth before hosting Millwall and playing Queens Park Rangers away in the opening fortnight of next month.
Sheffield United also visit Loftus Road, but next weekend, before hosting Preston and Bristol City ahead of heading to Hillsborough for the season’s second Sheffield derby before the break
Leave a Reply