There is a sombre mood around Leeds United following their 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday. After looking imperious for weeks, Leeds have dropped five points in their last two league games and the race for automatic promotion is again interesting with little to separate the top three sides. Leeds are still at the summit of the Championship table but the margin for error is now minimal and they cannot afford to drop points in the two league games ahead of next week’s international break. However, amidst the doom and gloom, Leeds United fans have been reminded they still have an excellent team who are favourites to get promoted.
Leeds United fans are still reeling from the shock of watching their team lose for the first time in 18 league games and coupled with the draw against West Brom previously, there is a sense of dread around Elland Road at the moment.
The Whites are still top of the table, but the advantage has been more or less wiped out and by the time they kick off at Elland Road against Millwall on Wednesday night, they could be third.
Leeds supporters are desperate to avoid going into the playoffs as the scars of last season’s defeat in the playoff final against Southampton are still very fresh and are yet to heal.
Six points in the next two games before the break will calm down a fanbase who are again dreading a tough end to the campaign like last season when Leeds finished third.
However, the Leeds fans have been given a timely reminder by Micah Richards about how good the Whites have been this season and are still favourites to get promoted this season.
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Leeds have ten games to get their season back on track and ensure they book an automatic promotion spot to the Premier League for next term.
The Whites have been the outstanding Championship team of the season and must make sure that their good work does not get unravelled at the business end of the season.
Richards indicated Leeds have the best squad in the league given the kind of options they can fall back on from the bench when needed, which has been a key part of their excellence this season.
The former Premier League defender insisted that he is well aware of the quality of the Leeds players and they should be good enough to get promoted to the top flight at the end of the season.
“When you watch them this season, in terms of their squad, who they can introduce off the bench and the style of football”, Richards said in The Rest is Football podcast.
“Dan James has been outstanding this season and they have got Tanaka in midfield.
“I know all their players as well and I just really want to see them in the Premier League.”
Leeds players must look around and realise how good they are
The defeat at Portsmouth was a huge blow and the margin for error at the top is now more or less negligible given how close the top three teams are to each other.
However, Leeds are still at the top and the defeat at Fratton Park was their first in 18, which shows the remarkable consistency Daniel Farke’s side have shown this season.
The injury to Ethan Ampadu has come at the wrong time for Leeds and they are missing the club captain’s calmness in the middle of the park.
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However, Leeds still have a strong squad and the players must look at their teammates and realise the brilliant options they have inside the dressing room.
Micah Richards is right, Leeds have the best squad in the Championship and not getting promoted this season would be criminal given their strength.
Farke must insist upon his players to realise how good they are and prove that by completing the job in the remaining ten games of the season.
