Leeds United: Don Goodman blown away by historic achievement as prediction made pre-Millwall
Don Goodman says the quality on offer at the top end of the Championship is like nothing he has ever seen before as he backed Leeds United to finish in the top two.
Leeds have a chance to climb level on points with leaders Leicester City – and potentially above them on goal difference – should they beat Millwall on Sunday (17 March).
Ipswich Town currently occupy second place after thumping Sheffield Wednesday 6-0 on Saturday (16 March), while Southampton are six points behind Leeds in fourth with a game in hand.
Two teams could break the record for the most points won without going up automatically to the Premier League in what has been a thrilling race for promotion.
Asked if it has been the best promotion race he has witnessed, Goodman told MOT Leeds News: “Without hesitation. This is my 18th season working for Sky Sports, on top of my time playing predominantly in the Championship, and without question I can’t remember anything like this.
“Well, it’s never happened before. Four teams averaging two points a game at this stage of the season – the most is two. Four doing it tells you the level of qualities the top four are showing; it goes beyond average Championship seasons.”
Leicester City holding on to top spot in Championship promotion race
Goodman added: “The four of them have dominated really. They’ve each had a tiny blip, with Leeds’s coming early in the season in away games when they just couldn’t get the results you’d expect.
“But looking at them now, they’ve found their groove and found a way to win games when not at their absolute scintillating best. The past two games are a prime example of that.
“Stoke City went to Elland Road and gave them a good game, but Leeds found a way to win, then Sheffield Wednesday for the first half until the goal when Leeds were nowhere near the levels we have seen them perform at.
“It’s such a hard schedule, but they’re continuing to win games and are on this remarkable run. I could make a case for them being the favourites to win the league now because Leicester are having this ‘blip’ if you can call it that.
“Leicester are drawing and losing due to not taking chances in a way they were earlier in the season.
“They’ve gone from nobody with a sound mind thinking they can be caught, to literally having a three-point cushion on Leeds in third. It’s been an incredible race and I back Leeds 100 per cent to finish in the top two.”
Leeds United face huge showdown with Millwall at Elland Road
Daniel Farke’s men were 17 points adrift of Leicester at one point, yet they could enter the March international break level on points.
Leicester will be labelled ‘bottlers’ if they fail to go up automatically, but every team is entitled to a blip across what is a gruelling campaign.
Unfortunately for the Foxes, their patchy run of results has come towards the end of the campaign, whereas Leeds’ blip was early on.
Momentum plays such a big part in football, and Leeds have certainly had plenty of that on their side since the turn of the year.
Leeds, Ipswich and Leicester are all still on course to reach 100 points for the season, while Southampton are not far behind, yet two face settling for the play-offs.
And given the way football works – and indeed the Championship – you would not bet against the side finishing well behind in sixth place pipping those two unfortunate teams to promotion in a cruel fashion.
In other Leeds United news, an international manager has raved about what he has seen from a Whites regular this season.
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