Leeds United are second in the league table having played a game less than Sheffield United and are now being touted to get promoted to the Premier League by winning the Championship. However, Daniel Farke and his players will not look too far ahead and would be acutely aware that fortunes could turn at a whim in the second tier of English football. Leeds look poised to go up but they have some tough tests lined up in the coming weeks that could change the make-up of the automatic promotion race if results go a certain way. The Whites host promotion rivals Sunderland at home tonight and a win would go a long way in further consolidating their position. However, a shock defeat would bring the Black Cats into the automatic promotion conversation.
Sunderland sit fourth in the Championship table and have a big lead over teams below them in the league table. They look almost certain to finish in the playoff spots but only have an outside chance of sneaking into the top two.
The Black Cats are seven points behind Leeds United and eight behind Sheffield United and even a draw at Elland Road tonight will not be good enough to get them back into the automatic promotion race.
Leeds have a terrific home record and have been swatting aside teams who have been visiting Elland Road with some big results against some top teams.
It will be considered a shock if Sunderland manage to beat Leeds and even some of the biggest detractors of the Whites acknowledge that the home side are massive favourites to win.
Gabby Agbolahor is not known for praising Leeds but even the former Ason Villa striker has admitted that Sunderland are in for a massive challenge.
Leeds United are ‘inevitable’ at Elland Road – Agbonlahor
Leeds have lost just one league game at Elland Road all season and by far have the best home record in the Championship in the ongoing campaign.
Sunderland are unbeaten in eight and have won their last two away games but Agbonlahor indicated that facing Leeds at Elland Road is a completely unique challenge for any time.
The former striker is expecting a tough game between two top sides in the Championship but admitted that the Elland Road fortress will prevail.
He conceded that he cannot see beyond a Leeds win tonight despite Sunderland’s current form and results in their last two away games.
“Leeds have won 12 of the last 13 at home, but Sunderland have won the last two away games”, the former striker said on talkSPORT.
“Tough game, but Elland Road looks like a fortress. The inevitable is a win this evening for Leeds.”
Leeds are a different beast at home
Sunderland are coming into the game with some confidence in their stride. They are unbeaten in eight in the Championship and have won their last two away games.
However, no one would be prepared to bet against Leeds at home this season. They have lost just once in the league at Elland Road and have scored a staggering 42 goals in 16 games, 14 more than the next-best team in terms of goals at home.
Leeds will back their home form to get a result tonight and a win for the Whites could more or less end Sunderland’s hopes of sneaking into the top two spots.
Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
However, the Black Cats will be no pushovers and they did give a good account of themselves when Leeds visited the Stadium of Light earlier in the season.
Leeds were looking like leaving Wearside with all three points after Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo scored but a Firpo own goal in injury time meant Sunderland earned a point.
Sunderland have been touted to be a better team than then but Leeds have only gone from strength to strength since then and have not conceded a goal in their last six league games.
Agbonlahor is right, a Leeds win tonight seems inevitable despite Sunderland’s quality and the form they are in at this stage of the season.
