Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table following the form they have shown during the festive period. The win over Derby County on Sunday evening allowed the Whites to open up a two-point lead at the top of the league table. The Yorkshire giants look the real deal in the race for automatic promotion and they could build an even bigger advantage in the coming weeks if they continue to perform at their current level.
Brenden Aaronson’s 79th-minute goal at Pride Park ensured Leeds left Derby with three points in their bag and a second consecutive away victory despite winning just three games on the road this season ahead of Boxing Day.
We argued earlier that Leeds would have a great chance to fix their away record during the festive period due to the quality of teams they would be facing and it seems they are doing exactly that.
Leeds were already looking strong in the automatic promotion race just on their wonderful home form but with their record on the road improving, the Whites now seem the favourites to play in the Premier League next season.
The Whites had a great start to 2024 when they didn’t lose a league game until April and while emulating that would be almost impossible, Leeds could build a real advantage at the top of the league table in the coming weeks.
Leeds have a real chance to ensure they race ahead in the promotion chase in the next few weeks if they take care of the games they are supposed to win.
Leeds United could get a massive leg-up in the promotion race in the coming weeks
On paper, Leeds United have a great run of games coming up and they could be in a great place to get promoted at the end by the time February rolls out.
Blackburn’s visit to Elland Road looked tough a few weeks back as John Eustace’s side were in great form and even beat Leeds at Ewood Park a few weeks back.
However, their form has tailed off and they have lost two of their last three games, including a shock 1-0 defeat at home against relegation favourites Hull City.
On current form, Leeds would back themselves to beat Blackburn and get all three points at Elland Road to keep their terrific run at home going.
Hull’s win over Blackburn doesn’t change the fact they are sitting 21st in the league table and are one of the favourites to go down to League One at the end of the season.
Leeds are favourites to win their third game on the trot on the road and ensure that they remain at the summit of the Championship standings.
Following their FA Cup clash against Harrowgate Town, Leeds will be back in league action on 19th January when they host Sheffield Wednesday in a Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.
A derby day is always tricky and the Owls are firmly in midtable at the moment, sitting eleventh in the league table. This is a potential banana skin for the Whites despite being at home.
Next up they have a midweek home game against Norwich City who have Borja Sainz, the Championship’s top scorer in their ranks. The Canaries are another tricky opponent but their Elland Road form should help Leeds get a win.
Leeds end January with probably their toughest game when they will travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley. The Clarets are promotion contenders and are the only away side to win at Elland Road this season.
The Yorkshire giants will be happy to leave Turf Moor with a point if they can and it will be seen as a good draw away from home.
Leeds will need consistency in selection to keep their form going
The Whites are carrying the hurt of last season’s failure and Daniel Farke would be keen to ensure that they keep their feet firmly on the ground in the latter half of the campaign.
Leeds look like favourites to get promoted and the run of games ahead of them does look advantageous. However, the Whites will be looking to avoid getting ahead of themselves.
The Whites look like a settled squad and Farke is known for being a manager who likes to deal with a small group of players and more or less a settled line-up.
Farke seems to have settled on Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as his centre-back pairing and Ethan Ampadu has been moved up to midfield for the rest of the season.
Leeds have also stumbled onto a favoured front three and it seems Manor Solomon, Daniel James and Joel Piroe will get a run of games as the first-choice attacking trio.
The Whites are depending on this consistency of selection and would be keen to avoid any more major injuries for the rest of the season.
They have cover in their squad as they have shown earlier in the season but Farke would be happy to name at least nine to ten of his starting eleven in every game from now until the end of the season.
Last year’s experience and consistency of selection are Leeds’ biggest assets in their race to get promoted to the Premier League in the coming months.
