Paul Robinson drops ‘phenomenal’ verdict in Leeds United and Leicester City title admission
Paul Robinson has backed “phenomenal” Leeds United to beat Leicester City to the Championship title as he feels the Foxes’ blip has come at the wrong time.
The Whites have done an exceptional job to reign in the previously high-flying Leicester and their 2-0 triumph over Millwall last time out put them top on goal difference.
Enzo Maresca’s men were on FA Cup duty, losing 3-2 to Chelsea in the quarter-finals, and thus do have a game in hand over Leeds.
But former Whites goalkeeper Robinson – speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News – thinks the psychological damage inflicted on their rivals will be enough to keep them top at the end of the season.
“Leicester have hit the buffers at the wrong time. The Championship is a long, drawn-out season, but I just think that Leicester’s blip has come at a bad time for them and I think psychologically as well to see their 11-point gap they had at Christmas and now they’re not top of the league, I think Leeds and the form they’re in it’s nothing short of phenomenal,” Robinson said.
“The amount of points they’ve got this season, since the Championship was formed there’s only ever been 18 teams since the start of the Championship that have averaged more than two points per game.
“This season there are four teams doing that, which shows how tough it is. Any other season, Leeds put this run together that they’re on now, they’d be well and away clear and up as champions almost.
“But I think you’ve got to give credit to the likes of Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester – but I do think that Leeds are in a really good place at the moment.
“They’ve go a fully fit squad, they’re winning games. I watched the Millwall game, they were comfortable in the same way as they were in the Stoke game.
“The goals seem to have dried up a little bit but they were never under pressure, they never looked like losing that game, they looked like a Premier League team playing against a Championship side, they looked in full control.
“They’ve not lost at home all season, unbeaten in their last 13 games, winning 12, it’s an incredible run to be on and I expect nothing less than they keep going.
“I looked at the fixtures they’ve got left now, they only play two of the top seven, one of which is Hull City and the other is Southampton on the last game of the season.
“And if it’s looking like Southampton can’t get an automatic promotion place you would think they may rest players ready for the playoffs.
“So looking at the fixtures Leeds have got left I thoroughly expect Leeds to not be guaranteed an automatic promotion place but certainly favourites, and they way they’re going they can go up as champions.”
Will Leeds United pip Leicester City to the Championship title?
A few months ago it seemed fanciful that anyone other than Leicester would finish top of the Championship.
Now, not only could they be toppled for the title but they might have to settle for a spot in the play-offs with the chasing pack giving up very little.
Leeds have, frankly, been sensational in recent months and the confidence and swagger they have will stand them in good stead for what could be a brutal run-in.
There is still a long way to go but Daniel Farke and his side are absolutely primed to get the job done and take home the title.
In other Leeds United news, Gabriel Agbonlahor shares what he saw Dan James do before his crucial Wales penalty miss.
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