Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table but their lead at the top is minimal with regards to earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. The top two will get automatic promotion and Leeds are well aware of what could happen in the playoffs if they finished between third and sixth like last season. They only have a three-point buffer between them and third-place Burnley, which makes their encounter at Turf Moor on Monday night doubly important for the rest of the season. They could be second by the time the game rolls on as Sheffield United are expected to beat Hull City this weekend and it makes it paramount that they leave Turf Moore with something in their bag.
The race for automatic promotion is turning out to be one of the tightest of recent years. Leeds are at the top but Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland are very much in the race.
The margin of error is becoming smaller with each passing game and despite Leeds being at the top, their supporters are on the edge as the memories of last season’s heartbreak are still fresh.
Leeds are determined not to get in the playoffs again and want to get the job done by finishing in the top two and earning automatic promotion to the top flight.
With this in the background, Leeds are set to travel to Lancashire to take on Burnley in an away game at Turf Moor on Monday and it is being built up as one of the biggest games of the Championship.
The hype around the fixture is justified given a win for either side will make a big difference in the promotion race but Leeds need to ensure that they don’t get beaten.
Leeds United vs Burnley is a batter between the league’s best attack and best defence
Burnley are the only side to beat Leeds at Elland Road this season. Scott Parker’s side scored a 1-0 win over the Whites in West Yorkshire early in the season.
Parker’s side are built on having a strong defence and they have the best defensive record in the Championship this season. Even at home, expect Burnley to sit back and defend tightly and try to hit Leeds on the counter.
The Whites on the other hand are the entertainers of the league. They have scored 53 goals this season, 17 more than Burnley but have conceded 19, ten more than the Clarets.
Daniel Farke’s side need to find a way to ensure they don’t get caught at the back by trying to be too adventurous at the other end against a resolute Burnley defence.
Leeds need to show their usual control and Turf Moor is a good place for them to show their functional nature by playing their predictable brand of football.
If Sheffield United win at home this weekend, Leeds need to win in Lancashire to get back to the top but that should not dominate their minds.
A point will help them to maintain their three-point lead over Burnley but a defeat will mean that the two sides will go level on points in the table.
Control and patience must be the away side’s mantra
Burnley took an early lead at Elland Road earlier in the season and defended resolutely for the rest of the game to leave West Yorkshire with a 1-0 win.
Leeds dominated the ball and had a staggering 72 percent of the ball but one defensive error and Burnley scored from a counter-attack to steal all three points.
The Whites have to ensure that they don’t concede early as Burnley have the defence to keep out teams and their defensive record is more than enviable.
Leeds can’t lose patience as Burnley will defend well and can’t try to be overzealous in attack, which could open up the game for the home side to take advantage.
Farke’s side need to play their controlling brand of football and keep trying to find a way to score past a resolute Burnley defence at Turf Moor on Monday night.
The fact that Leeds have several attacking threats will work to their advantage as Burnley can’t just focus on stopping one outstanding forward.
However, patience and control need to be their mantra if Leeds are to get a result at Turf Moor in the next couple of days.
